Life of David P. Kimball, and other sketches

BANCROFT

LIBRARY

<

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID PATTEN KIMBALL, 1877.

Life of David P. Kimball

and Other Sketches

By Solomon F. Kimball

Salt Lake City, Utah

The Deseret News

1918

BANCROFT
LIBRARY

FOREWORD

With the facilities for food, transportation and
travel, and for education and classified occupations,
universally provided in our day, the generation
now living can little appreciate the inconveniences,
troubles, and even sufferings and hardships, that
were endured by the noble men and women who
conquered the West, and who, by their sacrifices,
provided for the temporal comforts we of today
enjoy.

These imperfect pages give us a glimpse of some

of the ups and downs in the life of one man who

was a typical pioneer frontiersman, and seek to

portray a scattered few of the thrilling incidents

-J of his strenuous career.

As with all the Latter-day Saints who took part
in the settlement of the west, faith in God and in
the restoration of the gospel, held him to his vig-
orous tasks, enabled him triumphantly to conquer
CZ obstacles, and was the underlying force of his
achievements. Unlike many other early settlers,
however, who were much older than he was, he rep-
resented the characteristics of the second genera-
tion type seemingly rough, in some respects and
ways, but having hearts and souls tuned to service,
love and helpfulness.

This sketch is fondly inscribed to his memory

iv FOREWORD

by his loving sons, and his companion brother.
Other sketches herewith, are inserted to fill the
allotted space, and we trust will prove neither un-
interesting nor unprofitable to the reader.

THE AUTHOR.
Salt Lake City, March, 1918.

CONTENTS

Life of David P. Kimball 1

A Worthy Prophet 73

Ancestry of Heber C. Kimball 81

An Eventful Life 89

Spiritual-Mindedness 99

Results of Sabbath-Breaking 107

A Miraculous Escape 117

A Blessing in Disguise 121

Patriarchal Blessings 125

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

By His Brother, Solomon

After the mob had driven the Saints from their
Missouri homes, Heber C. Kimball and family re-
moved to a place called Commerce, afterwards
named Nauvoo, the famous gathering place of
God's people in Illinois.

With the logs of an old stable, he built a small
shack, and covered it as best he could with material
at hand. It had no floor nor chinking, but notwith-
standing he moved his family into it. On the night
of August 23, 1839, while a fearful storm was rag-
ing, his wife, Vilate, gave birth to her fourth son.
The water on the floor was ankle deep in places,
and the wind in all its fury blew sheets of water
over the bed of Sister Kimball, drenching her to
the skin.

While in this condition Sister Vilate, whose life
was almost exhausted, cried out in anguish, "He-
ber, unless you can secure for me a stimulant of
some kind, I will die before morning." Her lov-
ing husband, realizing the seriousness of her condi-
tion, lost no time in visiting the surrounding camps
in search of the desired medicine. But he was
compelled to return empty handed, soon after the
child was born.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

Not long after this affecting incident occurred,
Brother David W. Patten, president of the Council
of Twelve Apostles, was killed by a ruthless mob.
He was a man whom the women of "Mormondorrf
almost idolized; hence, Sister Vilate named her
newly-born son David Patten. As he grew, the
child showed traits of unusual intelligence, in view
of which she penned the following lines for the
benefit of her husband who was on his second mis-
sion to England :

LITTLE DAVID

Our darling little David P.
Is just as sweet as he can be ;
He surely is the finest lad
That you and I have ever had.

His eyes are black, his skin is fair,
His features good, and brown his hair ;
He's just as fat as butter, too,
We therefore think that he will do.

The martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and Patri-
arch Hyrum followed a few years after the expul-
sion of the Saints from Missouri. During the win-
ter of 1845-46, the people were once more driven
from their comfortable homes. In a wagon that
had been fitted out for the occasion little David,
who was now a lad of seven, in company with his
mother and the other children, crossed the Missis-
sippi river on the ice to join the Camp of Israel in
the western wilds. They suffered many privations
during the next few months.

4 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

After traveling some five hundred miles over the
trackless plains of Iowa, they reached the western
banks of the Missouri river, where the body of the
Church remained for the winter and until their
leaders might select a home for them further west.
The newly-constructed town was called Winter
Quarters, and was afterwards named Florence, a
name it has retained until this day.

During the latter part of May, 1848, Heber C.
Kimball, at the head ^>f one hundred wagons, con-
taining his numerous family, relatives, friends, with
provisions enough to last a year, bade farewell to
his Winter Quarters home and continued on the
thousand-mile journey to the west.

Before starting, David's father presented him
with a beautiful little mare named Shab and a new
saddle, which pleased the boy very much. His
faithful little animal carried him safely from the
Missouri river to the Salt Lake Valley, where, in
company with his father's family, he arrived on the
22nd day of September, 1848.

During the next few years David's time was
spent in herding cows, attending school, running
errands and doing odd things in general. As soon
as he was old enough, his father entrusted him with
a team, and the remainder of his unmarried days
were spent in various kinds of work that kept him
constantly busy.

David P. Kimball, at the age of eighteen, had
developed into as fine a specimen of manhood as
could be found among the people. Being of a spir-

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6 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

itual minded nature he possessed the gift of proph-
ecy to a remarkable extent, though not at all pre-
tentious over such matters. Having been born
while his grief-stricken parents were passing
through serious hardships, he naturally partook of
the spirit by which they were actuated and the
conditions by which they were surrounded. This
undoubtedly went far towards qualifying him for
the hard and trying mission he was destined to
fulfil.

He was a descendant of the Pilgrim fathers. His
grandsires stood shoulder to shoulder with the
brave patriots whose struggles made ours the most
glorious nation on earth. Taking these facts into
account, how could he be anything else than brave !
He was naturally intelligent, honest, truthful, vir-
tuous, God-fearing and as tender-hearted as a child.
Of course, he was not as polished as the young-
men of this generation, for he had but little time to
attend school, or enjoy the comforts and tender
training of home. He was a good story-teller and
could thrill the listener in every nerve while relat-
ing his exciting experiences. He was cheerful un-
der the most trying circumstances, and complaints
were never heard from his lips. He was liberal to
a fault, and always ready to aid and comfort those
who needed help. His great faith, zeal, earnest-
ness and devotion to principle marked him as an
extraordinary man.

Probably no greater act of heroism was ever re-
corded in the annals of history than that performed

LIFE OF DAVID P. K1MBALL 7

by David P. Kimball and his twenty-seven asso-
ciates who, on the morning of October 7, 1856,
went from the City of the Great Salt Lake to the
relief of the fifteen hundred belated hand-cart emi-
grants who were caught in the early snows of a
severe winter, hundreds of miles from human hab-
itation, without food and without shelter. By their
indefatigable labor these brave mountain boys were
instruments in the hands of the Lord in saving thir-
teen hundred of that number. Had it not been for
their heroic efforts not enough emigrants would
have survived to tell the tale. The greatest heroes
of them all were the subject of this sketch, and his
bosom companions, George W. Grant and C. Allen
Huntington.

When the Martin handcart company came to the
first crossing of the Sweetwater, west of Devil's
Gate, they found the stream full of floating ice,
making it almost impossible to cross on account of
the strong current. The snow was eighteen inches
deep on the level, and the wind blew a perfect hur-
ricane. The stream which they were about to
cross was waist deep in places, and more than a
hundred feet wide by actual measurement. To
cross that mountain torrent under such conditions
seemed to them nothing short of suicide, for nearly
one-sixth of their number had already perished
from the effects of crossing North Platte, eighteen
days before. They believed that no earthly power
could bring them through that place alive, and
reasoned among themselves that if they had to die

Upper Row C. Allen Huntington, Geo. W. Grant and
David P. Kimball, the three heroes who carried the
Martin company across the Sweetwater.

Second Row Ephraim K. Hanks and Charles F. Decker,
chiefs of western scouts, who crossed the plains from
Salt Lake City to the Missouri river more times than
any other men. Whenever the authorities of the
Church sent an important message to England during
the winter season, these men were always chosen to
make the hazardous journey.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 9

it was useless to add to their suffering by the per-
petration of such a rash act as crossing that treach-
erous stream. They had walked hundreds of miles
over an almost trackless plain, pulling carts as they
went, and after making such tremendous sacrifices
for the cause of truth, to lay down their lives in
such a dreadful manner was awful to contemplate.
They became alarmed and cried mightily unto the
Lord for help, but apparently received no answer.
All the warring elements of nature appeared to be
against them, and the spirit of death itself seemed
to be in the very air.

After these freezing, starving emigrants had
given up in despair, after all their hopes had van-
; shed, after every apparent avenue of escape
seemed closed, David P. Kimball, George W.
Grant and C. Allen Huntington, members of the
relief party from Salt Lake City, came to the res-
cue, and to the astonishment of all who saw, car-
ried nearly every member of that ill-fated hand-
cart company across that icy stream. The strain
was so terrible, and the exposure so great that in
later years all of the boys died from the effects of
it. When President Brigham Young heard of this
heroic act, he wept like a child, and later declared
publicly "that act alone will insure David P. Kim-
ball, George W. Grant and C. Allen Huntington
an everlasting salvation in the Celestial Kingdom
of God, worlds without end."

'42

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LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 11

These heroes went, on missions sent,
To rescue pilgrims that were late ;

With heavy loads, they "broke" the roads,
From Salt Lake down to Devil's Gate.

Met starving Saints, with travel faint,
Pulling hand-carts through the snow,

All through November and December ;
These were dreadful days of woe.

Through drifting snow, these boys would go
With freezing pilgrims on their backs,

Through rivers deep, through slush and sleet ;
And o'er the hills, they "broke" the tracks.

They climbed the heights, then sat up nights
Nursing the sick and burying dead ;

Their hearts would bleed when they would feed
Poor, helpless children without bread.

With dauntless will they fought on still,
Saving the lives of all they could ;

Though they could feel their strength of steel
Waning for want of needed food.

On the 13th of April, 1857, David P. Kimball
was married to Caroline M., the eldest daughter
of Thomas S. and Albina M. Williams. Caroline
was born April 24, 1843, in Nauvoo, 111., and with
her parents joined the famous "Mormon" Battalion
and arrived in Salt Lake Valley, July 29, 1847. She
and her husband spent their honey-moon on Ante-
lope Island, where a week or more was enjoyed in
horseback riding, visiting places of interest, and
in having a jolly good time.

Caroline M., wife of David P. Kimball, 1877.

LIFE OF DAVTD P. KTMBALL 13

After returning from their wedding trip they
took up their abode with David's mother where
they remained for a year or more. David contin-
ued to work for his father, teaming, farming, get-
ting out wood, hauling grists to and from the mill,
and taking a general interest in looking after his
father's affairs. While this work was going on,
his wife was busily engaged in the common duties
of the home, cooking, sewing, spinning and pre-
paring herself to take charge of her own home.

During the latter part of 1858, David looked
after his father's Grantsville ranch, which was no
small affair. Several hundred head of horses and
cattle that pastured on the nearby ranges were to
be looked after during the summer months, and
then driven onto the Kimball Island, fourteen miles
north, where they remained for the winter and un-
til they were returned to the ranch in the spring.
Every year two or three hundred tons of hay were
cut with scythes, cured and put up. It was stacked
and fed to oxen that had been engaged in hauling
freight across the western plains.

The Skull Valley Indians were quite trouble-
some in those days. On several occasions, while
David had charge of his father's ranch, Indians
stole large herds of stock. When the neighboring
ranchers learned of the depredations, they hur-
riedly .sought the trail of the red-skin thieves.and
followed them until the stolen animals 'were recov-
ered. On several occasions David took part in
expeditions of this kind, and was quite successful
in escaping the bullets of the red man.

David P. Kimball, London, 1865.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KTMBALL 15

One bright morning during the month of May,
1863, the subject of this sketch, in company with
other elders, started on a mission to Great Britain.
After a two months' hard journey over the plains,
they reached the Missouri river, and several clays
later arrived in New York City. While there a
big, burly-looking fellow who learned they
were "Mormons" commenced to berate them in a
very insulting manner. David, who was not accus-
tomed to such treatment, gave him a good trounc-
ing, which he richly deserved.

Soon the elders were on board a first-class ves-
sel bound for Europe, and after a rough voyage of
several weeks they reached Liverpool, England.
In that country three years were spent in preach-
ing the gospel, baptizing converts, establishing
new branches of the Church, and performing a
work that brought joy and satisfaction to the
hearts of hundreds of people.

After being honorably released from his mission,
David, in company with his brothers, Charles and
Brigham, visited the Paris Exposition, where they
spent a number of days in viewing the sights. They
also visited other European cities of note, enjoy-
ing the educational advantages to their hearts con-
tent. Returning, they enjoyed a few days' rest in
England, when David and Charles boarded a home-
ward bound vessel and soon reached their native
land.

Then came the treat of their lives a visit to
their parents' old homes in the State of New York,

16 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

where they were royally received by their relatives
and friends. They also visited Kirtland, Ohio; In-
dependence, Missouri, and Nauvoo, 111., the once
beautiful city of their birth. Following the old
"Mormon" trail through the State of Iowa, they
soon reached Winter Quarters, on the west bank
of the Missouri river, where they enjoyed a few
days' rest. Here they boarded one of Ben Halli-
day's overland stages, and after about a week's hard
driving they reached home in time to attend the
April, 1866, Conference.

Following a few weeks of needed rest, David
was called on another mission; this time to fight
Indians in what was known as the Black Hawk
war, but his father said: "No; Brother Brigham, I
will send my son Solomon in his place/' which he
did. This gave David time to provide for the wants
of his family, straighten out his business affairs,
and prepare for the next year's work in hauling
freight from the terminus of the Union Pacific Rail-
road to Salt Lake City.

About the first of May, 1867, David, at the head
of his small freight train, started on his eastern
journey, arriving at the terminus of the railroad
four weeks later. After nearly a month's wait, the
delayed goods, which he had contracted to haul
across the plains, arrived, and two months later
he reached home. His trip was successful, which
encouraged him to attempt another trip that year,
but the most experienced freighters in the country
told him that the season was so far spent that such

M-j

18 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

an undertaking would be hazardous in the extreme.

A Mr. White, who owned a freight train that
arrived from the east about the same time that
David's reached its destination, offered his outfit
to the latter for a reasonable sum. Without delay,
the bargain was closed. This transaction put David
in possession of fifteen first-class mule teams that
were in pretty good order.

The merchants of Salt Lake, as an inducement
for Mr. Kimball to make the trip, offered almost
double the usual price, provided he would deliver
the goods. He figured that the railroad would be
completed as far west as Cheyenne, by the time he
reached there, and that he could drive that five
hundred miles within a month; that it would re-
quire one week to load the wagons, and five weeks'
hard driving to reach home. The roads being in
splendid condition and the feed good, he decided
to make the trip.

Xear the last of August, David started on his
hazardous journey, counting that if all went well
with him he would be able to make the round trip
before snow-fall ; but if not, there was no telling
what would happen. He took plenty of grain along
for his animals, leaving portions at the various sta-
tions along the road. He made light drives dur-
ing the first few days, thus enabling him to get
everything in good working order.

When old time freighters were asked what they
thought of David's venturesome undertaking, they
generally scratched their heads, looked wise, but

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 19

said nothing. Other experienced westerners pre-
dicted all kinds of trouble for him. However, when
his faithful fifteen six-mule teams, loaded to the
guards, drove up to Walker Brothers' Salt Lake
store and commenced to unload the goods, there
was great astonishment among the doubters.

After a few weeks' rest, indefatigable David
hitched up his teams again, and bore off to Los
Angeles, California, after more merchandise. Ac-
cording to the "Deseret Evening News" of fifty
years ago, he passed through St. George, Utah,
near the first of January, and a little more than
three months later he returned to Salt Lake City
with another trainload of goods. By this time,
he had made profit enough to pay his debts, with
sufficient means left to purchase more mules and
wagons. He was now ready for anything that
might be required in that line of labor.

The year 1868 was known throughout this whole
Rocky Mountain region as the year of railway en-
terprise. The screech of the Union Pacific locomo-
tive was heard upon the plains, and the great road
was soon to penetrate the everlasting hills. Prom-
inent Utah men contracted to build about two hun-
dred miles of track, but were unable to proceed
until supplies could be brought from the terminus
afar in the plains of Wyoming.

The mountain streams during the spring breaks
became raging torrents. Toll roads, bridges, and
ferries were so numerous along the route that it
would have bankrupted the ordinary freighter to

Charles S., son of Hebcr C. and Vilate M. Kimball.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 21

patronize all of them. Hence, David P. Kimball,
wide awake to the situation, began the journey
before winter was fairly over, and under the cap-
taincy of his Brother Charles they made their way
to the railroad terminus, then some five hundred
miles to the east of Salt Lake City.

While the teams were gone, David and his
brother Heber contracted with Joseph Nounnan,
the banker, to build about ten miles of railroad
track on the Bear River, a difficult piece of work
that would require much time and patience to com-
plete.

During the latter part of July the Kimball teams,
about twenty-five in number, all heavily loaded
with railroad supplies for Mr. Nounnan, arrived
at the latter's headquarters on Yellow Creek. A
few days later, about one hundred scraper teams
were piling up dirt in a fashion that caused even
experienced railroad men to look on in wonder and
amazement. It required about two months and a
half to finish the job which, when done, gave com-
plete satisfaction.

As soon as the Nounnan contract was completed,
the Kimball Brothers moved their outfit onto the
Brigham Young contract, at the head of Echo
Canyon, and, with about one hundred and fifty
plow and scraper teams, made good headway, not-
withstanding the roughness of the country. The
task was difficult, both for the boys and the teams,
of course, but the company paid enough more for
the work to make it worth while.

22 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

Having finished this contract, they took another
job further down the canyon, which kept them
busy until late that fall. They then went to work
for the railroad company, who were paying exhor-
bitant prices for labor, since they were racing with
the Central Pacific Railroad Company for certain
advantages which would accrue to the company
which should first reach Ogden.

IThat winter sufficient hay could not be purchased
at any price, which compelled the boys to feed their
animals solely on shelled corn. As a result it was
no unusual thing mornings to find a half dozen
or more dead mules lying about camp. Crismon
Brothers alone lost about fifty head.

As soon as the railroad reached Ogden, early
in May, 1869, the occupation of the Utah freight-
ers was gone. Their outfits were sold to the high-
est bidders, and they invested their means in other
enterprises. David P. Kimball, who was in lowly
financial circumstances three years before that
time, through his energy and hard labor, had ac-
cumulated what was then considered a fortune,
which reached nearly the one hundred thousand
dollar mark.

Through force of untoward circumstances, the
Saints who had settled in the Bear Lake Valley,
in 1864, had become almost discouraged. The far-
sighted Brigham Young, comprehending the situ-
ation, decided upon a plan which he was confident
would bring good results. It was the choosing of
David P. Kimball to stand at the head of the set-

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 23

demerits in that part of the Church, and giving him
the privilege of selecting a hundred or more experi-
enced men to accompany him in the development
of the country. \Yhen the plan was matured and
David had selected the men, their names were
called at a public meeting, as was the custom in
those days, and they were sustained in the enter-
prise by the people.

On the 19th of July, 1869, President David P.
Kimball started on his Bear Lake journey to the
north. His outfit consisted of three six-mule teams
loaded with household goods, merchandise, ma-
chinery, and other necessaries, such as would be re-
quired in the building of a new country. He also
took along with him about fifty head of cattle, and
a like number of horses and mules. This action
caused considerable stir among the Saints of Zion,
resulting in a migration of numerous families who
had not been called to the mission, who also made
their homes in that section of the country.

As soon as Brother Kimball reached Paris,
Idaho, he purchased several valuable lot?, located
in the extreme north end of the settlement. He
lost no time in preparing for winter, which gener-
ally set in about the first of November. He soon
had his family comfortably housed in a four-roomed
building, and two months later his large and com-
modious barn, sheds and corrals were completed.
While this work was going on, his hired help cut
and stacked about three hundred tons of hay and
hauled sufficient wood to serve the needs of his

24 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

family through the winter. This is part of the
work accomplished by him in the remarkably
short time of three months, to say nothing of the
duties that occupied the attention of his wide-
awake mind in other directions.

Before leaving Salt Lake City, he sent east for
a full set of brass band instruments, for among
the men he had selected for the Bear Lake mis-
sion there were several musicians. Neither did
he overlook the string band proposition, and a num-
ber of men who went with him were familiar with
that class of instruments. By the time winter
made its appearance, the Bear Lake settlements
were as a consequence blessed with music that
would have done credit to a much older country.

When spring came, President Kimball who, in
the meantime, had made himself acquainted with
the country's needs, went to work in earnest to
better the condition of the people over whom he
had come to preside. He united the Paris settlers
in the building of a sawmill near the head of Paris
canyon, and also a first-class grist mill several miles
below. He then invested a portion of his means in
building a tannery. He also furnished consider-
able means towards the stocking of the Paris Co-op
store, with a line of goods of which the people stood
sorely in need. Under his wise counsel, the people
built a five-pole fence from the north to the south
end of the valley, thus separating the stockrange
from most of the farming and meadow lands. He
purchased one of the best farms in the valley, and

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 25

placed in charge of it a first-class farmer who had
come with him. In other ways his means were
liberally invested, and soon the settlers through-
out that whole region of country began to feel the
benefits of the new blood that had been injected
into their financial veins.

We read in the Book of Mormon that "the Lord
gives men weaknesses that they may be humble,"
and Brother David, like all big and broad-minded
men, had his faults. One of them was that as long
as he had money he gave his friends and associates
the benefit of it, even when it was against his own
interests to do so. Having given away to his bet-
ter judgment in relation to such matters, he soon
found himself in financial straits, which circum-
stance naturally went hard with a man of his dispo-
sition. Notes were becoming due, lawsuits pending,
and the beneficiaries who had helped to bring about
this condition of things were among the first to
desert him. As the saying goes, "Trouble never
comes single," and it was so with David. Things
continued to go from bad to worse until he became
thoroughly discouraged and decided to return to
his Salt Lake home.

Soon after President Brigham Young was made
acquainted with these facts, he went to Paris, Ida-
ho, and at a stake conference held the next day, the
Saints and the sinners who had gathered to hear
him were made to understand that the man whom
he had sent to preside over that valley had not been
sustained by the people as he should have been.

26 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

\Yhen he drove into Paris from the north, he found
improvements made by Brother Kimball that
would be an honor and credit to any community,
but as he proceeded on his way through the town
he beheld the same old dirt-covered huts that were
built before he visited the place years ago. He said
that he had known Brother David from his infancy
up to the present time, and for many years had
looked upon him as one of the choice men of Zion.
That if the Saints of that valley had appreciated
his worth, and stood by him financially and other-
wise, this condition of things might never have oc-
curred. He stated also that for some time it had
been the unanimous sentiment of the First Pres-
idency that David should become a member of the
Council of Apostles, but through the spirit of
greed and opposition manifested by certain indi-
viduals towards him, he was sorry to say that these
plans had been frustrated. All things considered, he
would release Brother David P. Kimball from the
presidency of the Bear Lake mission, and he asked
that the blessings of the Lord attend him wherever
he might go.

Before President Young closed his remarks,
many people in the congregation were weeping.
It was certainly a day of regret and lamentation
for them, for they realized now that it would be a
long time before they were presided over by a man
who would make the sacrifices in their behalf that
Brother David P. Kimball had made.

As soon as David had disposed of his Bear Lake

President Brigham Young.

28 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

property and paid his debts, he and his family re-
turned to their Salt Lake home, where they were
royally received by their relatives and friends.
After some weeks spent in looking over the situa-
tion, Brother Kimball, with what means he had left,
purchased from his father's family the old Kimball
grist mill, on North Temple street, between State
and Main. This proved to be a valuable invest-
ment, and soon after the purchase enabled him to
move his family into a comfortable home.

However, managing a common old grist mill was
too tame a job for a man of David P. Kimball's
versatility and capacity. He therefore began to
search for pastures new. About this time there
was much discussion about the Salt River Valley,
in Arizona. It was held forth that the region of
country thereabout was one of great opportunity.
He therefore decided to dispose of his Salt Lake
property and make Arizona his future home. Be-
fore doing so he sought the counsel of President
Brigham Young upon the subject, and the pioneer
colonizer, without hesitation, advised him to go.
This plan having been decided upon, the great
"Mormon" leader, who had always been a friend
to David, called David to go as a missionary.

David sold his home and grist-mill to the high-
est bidder, and prepared for his Arizona mission.
He had been told that cattle were bringing fabulous
prices in the new country, so he decided to make
the journey with ox-teams. He bought three first-
class wagons and a traveling carriage, which he

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 29

had fitted up for the occasion. At Nephi, the then
terminus of the Utah Southern Railroad, he bought
ten yoke of the best oxen that could be found, also
about twenty head of cows. He then returned to
Salt Lake to get the balance of his outfit, which
was to be taken to Nephi on the cars. As soon as
President Young, who was the leading spirit in the
control of the railroad, learned this, he instructed
the superintendent to ship David's belongings, in-
cluding his family, to Nephi free of charge, which
was done.

Brother Kimball, with his family and splendid
outfit, was soon ready for the start south from
Nephi. On the eve of his departure, imagine Da-
vid's joy and satisfaction in beholding President
Brigham Young, who had made a special trip to
Nephi to see him off. It was the considerate
thoughtfulness of a magnanimous leader, which
David was not slow to recognize and appreciate.

After giving David some valuable instructions,
President Young placed his hands upon his head
and gave him a blessing, which fairly made the
Arizona missionary's nerves tingle. He then
blessed Sister Kimball and the children, and bade
them farewell. That was the last time that David
saw his dear friend President Brigham Young, who
passed to the other side a little more than a month
later.

Early on the morning of July 14, 1877, David P;
Kimball and family, accompanied by his brother
Solomon and Edward E. Jones and family, started

30 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

on their eight-hundred-mile journey to the South.
They reached St. George about the middle of Au-
gust. They had learned by this time, through sad
experience, that they had made the mistake of
their lives in starting with cattle, but, of course,
it was now too late to change the situation.

The road for one hundred and sixty miles ahead
was very bad. Water and feed were also extremely
scarce. However, they worried along until they

Ediwird /:. Jones and wife, wlw accompanied David P.
Kinihall on his journey to Arizona, in

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 31

reached Pierce's Ferry, on the Colorado River,
about one hundred miles south of St. George.
Here they were compelled to remain a few days in
order to rest their animals. While at this place an
Indian, who had been sent from St. George by
Brother David H. Cannon, brought the "Deseret
News," containing an account of President
Young's death. This sad message, in connection
with the troublesome times they were passing
through, multiplied their sorrows. It was a great
shock to Brother Kimball, and he could not have
felt worse had it been his own father.

The quicksands along the river bank at this point
made it dangerous for the cattle when they came
to drink, and on several occasions they had to be
pulled out of the treacherous sand to save them
from being buried alive. It was also a bad place
for rattlesnakes, but fortunately none of the stock
were bitten by them.

As soon as the animals were sufficiently rested,
another start was made, this time on one of the
roughest roads over which ox teams ever traveled.
It was through what was called the "Grand South
Gulch of the Colorado River." Every foot of the
way, for twenty miles or more, lay over rough bed-
rock. By the time the teams emerged from the
head of that rocky gulch, the oxen were so foot-
sore they could scarcely walk.

Driving about ten miles further, they came to
Cane Springs, where they found plenty of feed and
water. Here thev remained for a month or more.

32 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

until their worn and footsore animals were able to
continue on the way. Two miles south of the
spring lived a small band of Hualpai Indians, who
were terribly wrought up in their feelings when
they found, as they believed, that the white man
had taken possession of their rich grazing lands.

In a remarkably short time after the Kimballs
had settled in camp, the old chief, dressed in his
best, with a look that bespoke his feelings better
than words could express, came to interview them.
He began by haranguing the bystanders in regular
Indian fashion, at the same time swinging his arms
and pointing to the mountains, hills and plains. He
was able to make it known sufficiently and most
forcibly to all present that unless the company re-
moved and thus relieved the situation, some one
of the company would certainly lose his scalp.

As soon as the old fellow had completed his ad-
dress, Brother Kimball, who had no hair to spare,
led him to the table, where he spent an hour or
more in feasting upon the good things placed be-
fore him. Then came the pipe of peace, and soon
the old man was wending his way homeward as
one satisfied with everything his heart could de-
sire.

Before leaving Nephi, the sixteen yoke of oxen
that belonged to the Kimball party had been shod,
but the last two hundred miles of road had worn
the shoes out, and the result was that the feet of
the animals were so tender that they could scarcely
walk. It was more than a hundred miles to the

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 33

nearest blacksmith shop, and the first seventy miles
of that distance was over a barren desert. Supplies
were running short, winter was near at hand, and
things began to look serious for the Kimball party.

While facing this undesirable condition, a happy
thought passed through Brother Kimball's mind.
It was to send the old chief to Mineral Park after
shoes and nails. The distance by road was one
hundred and five miles, and there was but one place
along the route where water could be obtained. It
would be a hard trip on the old man, of course, but
if he was successful in carrying out the instructions
given him, it meant a good deal to the Kimball
party. If he failed, however, it would be difficult to
tell what would happen !

After the subject had been discussed from va-
rious standpoints, the aged Hualpai was entrusted
with a full set of instructions to the Mineral Park
blacksmith, and he was given thirty dollars in cash
to pay for the nails and shoes. He was also fur-
nished with a can of water and enough hardtack
and jerked beef to last him until he returned. On
the day of his departure, and as soon as he had
eaten his breakfast and had his morning smoke, he
bade farewell to his palefaced brethren and started
on his two-hundred-and-ten-mile jaunt.

Before starting on his journey, the old chief, who
knew the country from A to Z, left the impression
that he would be back within ten days, provided he
had to wait no longer than three days for the black-
smith to complete his work. Some of the company

34 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

censured Mr. Kfmball for placing so much confi-
dence in the old fellow, but David, who was a man
of discernment, knew that the chief would be true
to his trust, even if it cost him his life.

On the seventh day from the time he started on
his perilous journey, just before sundown, a dark
figure was seen by members of the Kimball camp,
working its way through the deep grass in the dis-
tance. It was thought by some of the company to
be a wild beast of some kind. At first, only little
attention was paid to it, but as it drew nearer, all
eyes were turned in that direction. It finally took
the form of a man, which caused a general sensa-
tion throughout the camp. Everybody by this time
was on the tiptoe of expectancy, and in a few mo-
ments their surprise was complete when the old
man came limping into camp with thirty pounds
of ox-shoes and nails lashed to his back.

It was difficult to believe that it was the same
man, for he had dwindled almost to skin and bones.
His belt, which contained seven holes, had been
drawn to the limit. He was so reduced in flesh
and strength that it required several days to restore
him to his normal condition.

The next day after his arrival the ox-shoeing
was begun in real earnest. It was no easy task,
for every ox had to be thrown and tied. After the
oxen were shod, their feet were so tender that it
required considerable turpentine which, luckily, the
camp possessed, to remove the soreness. Within a
week from the time the old man returned, the Kim-
ball party were ready for another start.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

35

On the second day of October, 1877, David P.
Kimball, at the head of his little company, con-
tinued on his way ; this time over a seventy-mile
desert marked only by a dim wagon trail. For the
next three days and nights man, woman, child and
animals were tested to the limit. It was a life and
death struggle for them all, and had it not been
for an Overruling Power, working in their behalf,
not one of them would have lived to tell the tale.

About eleven o'clock on the night of the 4th,

o

o

Lola and Effa, daughters of David P. Kimball, 1877.

36 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

they struck a sandy wash and lost their way. The
children were crying for water, and humans as well
as animals were famishing. What to do under such
conditions was enough to drive the ordinary man
insane, but their wise leader, who on other occa-
sions had passed through similar experiences, was
not easily discouraged. Well versed in the wisdom
and instinct of animals, under such conditions, he
gave orders to the drivers to unyoke their cattle
and give them full liberty to go wherever they
wanted to. His past experience had taught him
that they would find water if it was anywhere to
be found. He also had two of the strongest men in
the company, his brother Solomon and Edward E.
Jones, mount horses and follow the thirsty and
tired animals in any direction which they might go.

These instructions were carried out to the letter,
and soon the famishing herd of horn stock, with
their heads lifted high, started in an easterly direc-
tion, as rapidly $ 'their tired limbs could carry
them. The men on horseback followed. . Every lit-
tle distance they passed animals of the herd that
had given out on the way, but the men continued
to follow the main herd until nearly daylight, when
suddenly they came to a beautiful spring of water.
The scene that followed can better be imagined
than described! Within two hours from the time
the strongest animals had reached the spring a
number of those left behind came staggering along.
Others had died.

After a few hours rest the men drove the cattle-

LIFE OF DAVID P. K1MBALL 37

back to camp, a distance of about ten miles, and
were overjoyed to learn that David had found the
Hackberry water, two miles away, which was the
means of saving the lives of the campers. The
water here was in a deep well, which doubtless
accounts for the animals not scenting it. If the
Kimball party had discovered the nearby water that
night it would have prevented the death of many of
their cattle, to say nothing of the trouble it caused
them in other directions. Water, in that part of
the country, is so scarce that one may travel from
fifty to sixty miles in almost any direction without
finding it, a fact which shows the danger lurking
in Arizona deserts to strangers traveling without
a guide.

The next morning Mr. Kimball's four horses
could not be found, and their disappearance caused
great alarm in camp, as the loss of these animals
under such trying circumstances was a very serious
matter. For nine days following, the men folks
scoured the country for thirty miles around, but
not a trace of them could be found. Finally the
Indians took up the hunt, and on the eleventh day
from the time the animals were lost, the Indians
found them on Table Mountain, where they had
been without water during that time. Their con-
dition when found was pitiable beyond description.
Two of them never recovered from the effects.
There was but one place where the horses could
climb to the top of that mountain. This they had
found, but after they reached the flat, they were

38 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

unable to retrace their steps, other descents be-
ing too steep and rocky. Hence, also, the Kimball
party were unable to track them.

Hackberry was an old, deserted mining camp,
and a California company had just started it up
again. Mr. Kimball and companions here traded
what cattle they had left for horses and mules, and
remained there about two years in order to get an-
other outfit, so that they might continue on their
way.

All the supplies for this camp were brought up
the Colorado river on steamboats to Hardysville,
which is two miles south of Call's Landing, from
which place the "Mormons" of southern Utah at one
time obtained their supplies. Hackberry lies about
seventy-five miles northeast of. this place, and at
only three points along this route can water be
obtained. It was over this road that David hauled
freight for about two years, the Hackberry com-
pany allowing him three dollars per hundred. The
business paid very well, as the round trip could be
made in a little over a week.

By the middle of September, 1879, Mr. Kim-
ball had saved sufficient means to enable him to
continue on his journey. When he reached Pres-
cott, he contracted with the merchants of that
place to haul one hundred thousand feet of lumber
from a saw mill to the town. This occupied several
months of his time. While here, he made .the ac-
quaintance of a Mr. Bryan, who offered him three
dollars a hundred to haul a stampmill from Walnut

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 39

Grove into the Prescott Mountains. The tempta-
tion was so great, owing to the shortness of the
haul, that he accepted the offer. From the Grove
to the mine the distance was only eighteen miles.

After loading his teams with sufficient supplies to
last three months, he moved his outfit over to Wal-
nut Grove, where he went to work on his contract.
Few men had a wider experience in handling teams
than David, but he learned many new lessons along
these lines before his contract was completed. He
had three first-class six-horse teams, and his com-
panions, Solomon F. Kimball and Edward E. Jones,
each had one. Two tons of machinery was loaded
onto each wagon, and bright and early the follow-
ing morning the start was made. After a hard
day's drive they were highly delighted with the
fact that they had covered at least one-third of the
distance to the Tiger mine. That was making
money so fast that they could hardly sleep that
night for thinking about it !

Another start was made the next morning, but
before they had gone far they came to a mountain
that was very nearly perpendicular. After Captain
Kimball had looked over the situation, he had ten
span of horses hitched to the first wagon, which
meant two hundred pounds to the horse, and then
the work began. Every man was at his post, some
blocking wheels, others whooping up the leaders,
and every driver in the lot yelling at the top of his
voice. The distance to the crest of the hill was
about a quarter cf a mile, and by dark the five

40 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

wagons were landed on the summit. Two miles
were made that day. This was making money so
slowly that they could hardly sleep that night for
thinking about it!

The next morning they continued their journey,
this time over a much better road; two miles of it
being on down grade. Six miles were covered be-
fore dark, making thirteen miles which they had
traveled since they left home three days before.
That meant that five miles only lay between them
and the mine, but they little realized what was yet
ahead of them !

On the fourth day they early came to a rocky
hill, called "Hell," even to look at which made
them perspire. It required every team in the out-
fit to haul a load to the top. It was so steep and
rocky that not more than half of the animals were
able to stand on their feet at the same time. Many
of the strongest chains were broken before that
day's work was over, and they had gone only two
miles.

After another hard day's drive over hills and
rocks, the Tiger mine was finally reached. It was
located on one of the topmost peaks of the Pres-
cott range of mountains, some eight or ten thou-
sand feet above sea level, and afforded a splendid
view of the Salt River and Gila Valleys to the
south. The altitude of the mountain from this
point to the valley below is not less than six or
seven thousand feet, and the descent is almost
perpendicular. The Kimball party unloaded their

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 41

wagons that night and the next day drove home
in less than seven hours. -The following day was
a Sunday, and they made it a day of rest in very
deed. After six days of hard work, even the jaded
animals showed their appreciation of the change as
they lay stretched out beneath the shady trees of a
walnut grove. After two months of strenuous work,
the Kimball-Bryan contract was completed to the
satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Kimball then
moved his family and outfit to Kirkland Valley,
about twenty-five miles northwest, where he re-
mained until spring.

By the first of May, 1880, all arrangements had
been made by David to move his family to the Salt
River Valley, in order to fill the mission to which
he had been called three years before. However,
before starting on his one-hundred-and-fifty-mile
journey, he made a trip to Prescott after lumber
which was to be used in the construction of his
Arizona home. Three weeks later he reached
Mesa, then a small "Mormon" settlement eighteen
miles east of Phoenix. After looking over the coun-
try for several days, he purchased a tract of land
on the Salt River bottoms, three miles north of
Mesa, at a place called Jonesville, and commenced
to build a home. There were a number of fam-
ilies at the time living in this section of country
who were members of the "Mormon" Church, but
there seemed to be no organization among them.
They had neither meetings nor school, nor any
public place to hold them.

Zula Pomcroy, ivife of Solomon F. Kimball, first school
teacher of Joncsvillc,

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

43

In less than a year from the time Brother Kim-
ball arrived, he purchased a piece of ground in the
central portion of the town and, with the help of
the people, built a meeting house that must have
cost him not less than one thousand dollars. From
that time on, Jonesville had religious services on
Sundays, and a first-class school during the week.

Much of David's time was spent in freighting
goods from the Maricopa railroad station to Pres-
cott, lumber being hauled on the return trip.
While making one of these jaunts during the month
of November, 1881, he was caught in a snowstorm
at Prescott, resulting in a severe cold which
brought on pneumonia and lung fever. In a letter

Helen Mar Whitney and her brother, Col. Hcber
P. Kimball

44 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

to his sister Helen, under date of January 8, 1882,
he gives an account of a remarkable experience he
passed through while on his journey home. When
the writer returned from Arizona, in 1886, he came
in possession of this letter, and being conversant
with the facts it contained, sent it to President
John Taylor, that he might obtain his opinion in
relation to it. After reading the letter, President
Taylor returned it with instructions to have it pub-
lished, as it contained a true vision, and would
prove valuable among the Saints. Agreeable to
these instructions, received from President Tay-
lor, it was published in a little volume called "Help-
ful Visions," the fourteenth book of the Faith-
promoting Series, and afterwards published as an
appendix to the "Life of Heber C. Kimball." In
both cases it was edited by Bishop Orson F. Whit-
ney. It is given here just as it came from the pen
of Brother Kimball :

"On the 4th of November, I took a very severe
cold in a snowstorm at Prescott, being clad in light
clothing, which brought on pneumonia or* lung
fever. I resorted to Jamaica ginger and pepper tea
to obtain relief and keep up my strength till I could
reach home and receive proper care. On the 13th
I camped in a canyon ten miles west of Prescott,
my son Patten being with me. We had a team of
eight horses and two wagons. That night I suf-
fered more than death. The next night we camped
at Mr. Mclntyre's, about twenty miles farther on.
I stopped there two nights and one day, during

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 45

which time I to^k nothing to drink but pepper tea.
On the 16th we drove to Black's ranch, twenty-
eight miles nearer home, and were very comfort-
ably located in Mr. Black's house.

"About lip. m., I awoke and to my surprise saw
some six or eight men standing around my bed. I
had no dread of them, but felt that they were my
friends. At the same time I heard a voice which
seemed to come from an eight-square (octagon)
clock on the opposite side of the house. It com-
menced talking and blackguarding, which drew my
attention, when I was told to pay no attention to it.
At this point I heard the most beautiful singing I
ever listened to in all my life. These were the
words, repeated three times by a choir: 'God bless
Brother David Kimball.' I at once distinguished
among them the voice of my second wife, Julia
Merrill, who in life was a good singer. This, of
course, astonished me. Just then my father com-
menced talking to me, the voice seeming to come
from a long distance. He commenced by telling
me of his associations with President Young, the
Prophet Joseph, and others in the spirit world,
then enquired about his children, and seemed to
regret that his family were so scattered, and said
there would be a great reformation in his family
inside of two years. He also told me where I
should live, also yourself and others, and a great
many other things. I conversed freely with father,
and my words were repeated three times by as
many different persons, exactly as I spoke them,

46 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

until they reached him, and then his words to me
were handed down in a like manner.

"After all this I gave way to doubt, thinking it
might be only a dream, and to convince myself that
I was awake, I got up and walked outdoors into the
open air.

"I returned, and still the spirit of doubt was upon
me. To test it further I asked my wife Julia to sing
me a verse of one of her old songs. At that, the
choir, which had continued singing, stopped and
she sang the song through, every word being dis-
tinct and beautiful. The name of the song was,
'Does He Ever Think of Me?'

"My eyes were now turned toward the south, and
there, as in a large parquette, I beheld hundreds,
even thousands, of friends and relatives. I was
then given the privilege of asking questions, and
did so. This lasted for some time, after which
the singing commenced again, directly above me.
I now wrapped myself in a pair of blankets and
went out-doors, determined to see the singers, but
could see nothing, though I could hear the voices
just the same. I returned to my couch and the
singing, which was all communicative and instruc-
tive, continued until the day dawned. All this time
the clock I have mentioned continued its cursing
and blackguarding.

"Mr. and Mrs. Black were up in due time and got
breakfast. I arose and made my toilet, plain as it
was, and took breakfast with my host and hostess.
When my boy got ready to start, I went to pay my

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 47

bill, and to my surprise heard a voice say or com-
municate : 'David Kimball has paid his bill.' When
I got into the wagon, my guards, or those who
were around my bed during the night, were still
with me. My father had told me that he and Pres-
ident Young and others would visit me the next
night.

4i \Ye drove on until about 11 a. m., when a host
of evil spirits made their appearance. They were
determined to destroy me, but I had power of mind
to pay no attention to them, and let them curse all
day without heeding them any more than possible.
Five times they made a rush en masse to come into
the wagon, the last one, where I was, but were kept
off by my friends (spiritual). About 2 p. m. I told
my boy to stop and we would water our horses.
We used for this purpose barrels that we had along
with us. After this I walked to the west side of
my wagons, and looking to the east, I saw and
heard the evil spirits floating in the air and chant-
ing curses upon Brigham Young. I saw two other
groups of the same kind, but did not hear them.
Then I looked to the south and the whole atmos-
phere was crowded with fallen spirits, or those
who had not obtained bodies. Others who tried
to torment me were spirits who had lived upon the
earth. Having seen so many and being compli-
mented by my guard for seeing so well, I became
a little timid and asked my spiritual friends if they
had any help. The answer was, 'Yes, plenty.' I
now told my boy to drive on he was entirely

48 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

oblivious of all that was taking place with me
and soon after I was so exhausted that I fell into a
troubled sleep and must have slept quite a little
while.

"After I awoke I seemed to be left alone, and was
lying on my back, when, all at once, I saw an old
man and two young girls. This vision coming on
me suddenly, I was startled, and finding my guard
gone, I jumped out of the wagon and got up on
the spring seat beside my boy. But I could not get
away from them. I was told in a coarse, gruff
voice that the devil was going to kill me, and that
he would follow me night and day until he de-
stroyed me. I remembered the promise father had
made me the night before that he intended to visit
me the next evening and I nerved up and tried to
pay no attention to my persecutors, but I must con-
fess I was frightened.

"We arrived at Wickenburg just at sundown.
The old man and the girls were tormenting and
tantalizing me all the way, but never coming
very near me. We got supper and I took a room
at People's hotel and retired about 10 p. m. When
everything was quiet my spirit friends, eight in
number, returned and my tormentors were re-
quired to leave. Soon after, a glorious vision burst
upon me. There were thousands of the Saints
presented to me, many who had died at Nauvoo,
in Winter Quarters, on the plains, and in Utah.

"I saw Brother Pugmire and many others whom
I did not know were dead. When my mother

Vilatc M. Kimball, mother of David P. Kimball, 1866.

50 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

came to me it was so real and I was so everjoyed
that I exclaimed aloud. So powerful was this vision
that I asked President Young, who seemed to be
directing matters, three times to relieve me, or I
would faint. A great many others passed in regu-
lar order, and I recognized nearly all of them, and
was told the names of all I did not know. My
father sat in a chair with his legs crossed and his
hands clasped together, as we have often seen him.
Those who passed along had hidden him from my
view till then.

"This scene vanished, and I was then taken in
the vision into a vast building, which was built
on the plan of the Order of Zion. I entered through
a south door and found myself in a part of the
building which was unfinished, though a great
many workmen were bnsv upon it. My guide
showed me all through this half of the house, and
then took me through the other half, which was
finished. The richness, grandeur and beauty of it
defied description. There were many apartments
in the house, which was very spacious, and they
differed in size and the fineness of the workman-
ship, according to the merits on earth of those who
were to occupy them. I felt most at home in the
unfinished part, among the workmen. The upper
part of the house was filled with Saints, but I could
not see them, though some of them conversed with
me, my father and mother, Uncle Joseph Young
and others.

"My father told me many things, and I received

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 51

many reproofs for my wrong-doings. Yet he was
loth to have me leave, and seemed to feel very
badly when the time came for me to go. He told
me I could remain there if I chose to do so, but I
pleaded with him that I might stay with my family
long enough to make them comfortable, to repent
of my sins, and more fully prepare myself for the
change. Had it not been for this, I never should
have returned home, except as a corpse. Father
finally told me I could remain two years, and to
do all the good I could during that time, after
which he would come for me ; he mentioned four
others that he would come for also, though he did
not say it would be at the same time.

"On the 18th of November, about noon, we left
\Yickenburg (which is twenty-two miles from
Black's Ranch where we stopped the previous
night) on our journey home. I was exhausted from
what I had experienced, and could feel my mind
fast giving away, but I had confidence that I would
reach home alive. There were no elders to admin-
ister to me and no kind friends to look after my
wants except my son, who had all he could do in
looking after eight horses and two wagons. As
my mind wandered and grew weaker, I was
troubled and led by influences over which I had no
power, and my friends, the good spirits, had all
left me.

"We drove about twenty miles that afternoon,
camping about eight miles from water, on the Salt
River desert, which is about fifty miles across. Dur-

52 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

ing the fore part of the night I heard the horses
running as though they were frightened. My son
was asleep, but I got up and put my overcoat
across my shoulders and went out where they were
and got them quieted down. I was about to re-
turn to the wagon, when that same old man with
gray whiskers, who had tormented me before,
stepped between me and the wagons. He had a
long knife in his hand. I was frightened and fled,
he pursuing me and telling me he was going to kill
me. What I passed through I cannot describe,
and no mortal tongue could tell. I wandered two
days and three nights in the Salt River desert, un-
dergoing the torments of the damned, most of the
time, which was beyond anything that mortal could
imagine.

"When my mind was restored, and the fever
which had raged within me had abated, I found
myself lying on a bleak hill-top, lost in the desert,
chilled, hungered, thirsty and feeble. I had scarce-
ly any clothing on, was barefooted, and my body
full of cactus from head to foot. My hands were a
perfect mat of thorns and briars. This, with the
knowledge that no one was near me, made me
realize the awful condition I was in. I could not
walk. I thought I would take my life, but had no
knife or anything to do it with. I tried to cut an
artery in my arm with a sharp rock I had picked up,
hoping I might bleed to death, but even this was
denied me. The wolves and ravens were hovering
around me, anxiously awaiting my death. I had a

State Senator Quincy K. Kimball, third son of
David P. Kimball.

54 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

long stick and I thought I would dig a deep hole
and cover myself up the best I could, so the wolves
would not devour my body until I could be found
by my friends.

"On the night of the 21st, I could see a fire about
twenty-five miles to the south, and felt satisfied
that it was my friends coming afer me. I knew the
country where I was ; I was about eight miles from
houses where I could have got plenty of water and
something to eat, but my strength was gone and
my feet were so sore I could not stand up. An-
other long and dreary day passed, but I could see
nothing but wolves and ravens and a barren desert
covered with cactus, and had about made up my
mind that the promise of two years' life, made by
my father, was not to be realized. While in this
terrible plight., and when I had just about given up
all hope, my father and mother appeared to me
and gave me a drink of water and comforted me,
telling me I would be found by my friends who
were out searching for me, and that I should live
two years longer as I had been promised. When
night came I saw another fire a few hundred yards
from me and could see my friends around it, but I
was so hoarse I could not make them hear. By
this time my body was almost lifeless and I could
hardly move, but my mind was in a perfect condi-
tion and I could realize everything that happened
around me.

"On the morning of the 23rd, at daylight, here
they came, about twenty in all, two of my own

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 55

sons, my nephew William, Bishop E. Pomeroy,
John Lewis, John Blackburn, Wiley Jones and
others, all friends and relatives from the Mesa, who
had tracked me between seventy-five and one hun-
dred miles. I shook hands with them, and they
were all overjoyed to see me alive, although in such
a pitiable plight. My own feelings I shall not un-
dertake to describe. I told them to be very careful
how they let me have water, at first. They rolled
me up in some blankets and put me on a buckboard
and appointed John Lewis to look after me as doc-
tor and nurse. After I had taken a few swallows
of water, I was almost frantic for more, but they
wisely refused to let me have it except in small
doses every half hour.

"I had about seventy-five miles to ride home.
We arrived at my place in Jones ville. on the after-
noon of the 24th of November, when my wife and
family took charge of me and I was tenderly and
carefully nourished. In a few days I was around
again. I told my experience to President McDon-
ald, Bishop Pomeroy, C. I. Robson and others, and
most of them believed me, but my word was
doubted by some. I told them I had just two years
to live, so they could tell whether it was a true
manifestation or not.

"No T , T , clear sister, you have a little of your
brother David's experience. I know these things
were shown to me for my own good, and it was
no dream but a glorious and awful reality. My
story is believed by my brethren who have respect

56

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

for me. I will console myself with the knowledge
I have obtained. Let the world wag on, and let
hell and the devil keep up their warfare against
the Saints of God. I know for myself that "Mor-

Darid Patten, Jr., and Thos. S., sons of David P. Kimball

monism" is true. With God's help, while I live, I
shall strive to do good, and I will see you before
long and tell you all, as it never will be blotted
out of my memory.

"With kind regards, in which my wife and chil-
dren join, I remain, as ever,

"Your affectionate brother,

"David P. Kimball,"

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 57

On the morning of November 19th, when Patten
arose and missed his father he thought probably
he had gone out to hunt for the horses, and felt no
uneasiness concerning him. He made a fire, pre-
pared breakfast and waited some time, but could
not see or hear him anywhere. The horses came
strolling into camp and were tied up, fed and wa-
tered. Patten then ate his meal and saddled a
horse and rode back towards Wickenburg, until he
came to a small place called Seymour on the Has-
sayampa but could learn nothing of his father's
whereabouts. He went back to the wagon and
hunted the* country close around camp but
found nothing but his father's overcoat, which
was a few hundred yards from the wagon. It
being an old camp-ground, it was impossible to
find his tracks. He finally came to the conclusion
that he had gone towards home, so he hitched up
his team and drove homeward until he came to Mr.
Calderwood's at Agua Fria (Cold Water). At this
place there was a well dug on the desert about
twenty miles from Salt River. Patten had traveled
about twenty-two miles before reaching this point,
but was disappointed in not hearing anything of his
father. He had traveled all night and Mr. Calder-
wood was up and around when he arrived. He
related his story to him and was advised by him to
leave his team there and take the best pair of
horses, and hitch them to his buckboard and go
on to the Mesa. Here he could get help to come
and hunt for the missing man. The distance was

58 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

forty miles, which would take all the rest of the
day (the 20th). He acted on the advice, however,
and arrived at his destination at 9 p. m. The news
was circulated, and in less than two hours, twenty
of the best and most experienced men at Mesa and
Jonesville were on the road, taking Patten back
with them. They also took a wagon to carry water
and provisions, but most of them were on the best
of horses. They had sixty miles to ride, before
beginning the search, which was accomplished by
daylight next morning. After feeding their horses
and eating a lunch they held a consultation and
agreed to abide by the following fuls. If any one
of the party found his tracks he was to make a
smoke and this would call the others in that direc-
tion. They then started out in different directions.
They scoured the country until about noon, when
Sern Sornson and Charles Rogers found his tracks.
They supposed they were about twelve miles from
where he was lost, and about ten miles from Agua
Fria, close to the main road on the south side.
They soon gathered some brush and started a fire,
putting on plenty of green weeds, etc., to cause a
smoke, and soon attracted the attention of their
comrades. His tracks were followed. They wound
round and round, going in no particular direction.
Some places he would cross his tracks eight or ten
times in going one hundred yards, which made
it quite difficult to follow.

After spending a part of the afternoon trailing
him up, the tracks finally took a direct course lead-

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 59

ing to the north. By this time all the searching
party were together.

Another meeting was held and the plan adopted
was for eight horsemen, four on each side of his
tracks, to ride at a considerable distance apart, so
as to cut off the track if it turned to the right or
left, and two or three of the best trailers to keep on
the tracks, while the buckboard and wagon fol-
lowed up. These were out of sight most of the
time, as very good time was made by the trailers
after this plan was adopted. The ground was quite
soft, and those on the trail would gallop their
horses for miles, but darkness soon put an end to
their work for this day, a good thing for both men
and animals.

They had traveled upwards of one hundred miles
in about twenty hours. They were working men
and had plenty of strength to carry them through
under all circumstances. . They camped on the
highest ground that could be found close by, and
made a large fire which was kept up all night by
those on guard.

As soon as it was light enough to see the tracks,
every man was at his place moving as fast as he
could under the circumstances.

This was the morning of the 22nd. One great
drawback they met with that day was that when
they would come to a deep ravine where water had
run during rainy weather, the tracks would follow
up sometimes for miles and then continue in the
former direction. Places would frequently be

60

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

found in the sand where the lost one had dug
down for water with his hands. Now and then
they would find a piece of his clothing and see
places where he had run into the fox-tail cactus,
cat's-claw and other thorny bushes. One place was
found where he had broken off the limb of a tree
for a walking stick. The party followed his tracks
all day without stopping, only as they were obliged
to, on account of losing the trail or from some
other cause.

Crosier and Heber Chase, sons of David P. Kimball.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 61

Darkness overtook them again, but nothing
could be heard or seen of the missing man. They
slept on his tracks, keeping up a fire all night as
before. His sons and others could not rest, and
followed his tracks after dark by striking matches
and putting them close to the ground to see if they
might possibly find him. Some thought they could
hear a sound, but it was so indistinct they could
not discern the direction from which it came. It
was indeed he who called, for they were then only
a few hundred yards from him, but he was too
hoarse to make them hear. On the morning of the
23rd at daylight his anxious friends were on his
tracks, and had gone but a short distance when
Charles Peterson saw him. He had a long staff in
his hand, and had raised up as high as he could get,
being on one knee and the other foot on the ground
and was stretching himself as far as he could and
looking eagerly for their arrival. The crowd made
a rush, and in a few seconds were with him, Bishop
E. Pomeroy being the first. He was in his right
mind and knew all present, and was glad to shake
them by the hand, calling each by name. He was
in good spirits and joked the boys frequently and
gave them instructions to be careful in giving him
water, etc. There was no water except in a canteen
that had been reserved for his especial use. The
company suffered themselves for want of water.
They had traveled upwards of one hundred and
fifty miles in less than forty-eight hours.

David had dug a deep hole with his stick and

62 LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

had used his hands to move the dirt. He said he
was digging his own grave. He was rolled in
blankets and put on the buckboard. All drove to
the nearest houses, seven or eight miles distant,
on the Hassayampa, where all refreshed themselves
with water and something to eat. Soon they were
on the road homeward. They drove to Mr. Cal-
derwood's, which was about thirty miles, and
stayed all night. He was very kind to all and told
them to help themselves to anything he had, such
as hay, grain and food. He acted the gentleman in
every respect. A large number of men had also
left Phoenix in search of David, among them the
U. S. marshal, and others. Men and Indians were
riding over the desert in every direction. Next
morning, the company drove to Jonesville, forty
miles distant, where they arrived about 3 p. m.

David was carried into his house where he was
surrounded by his loving wife and children.

When he recounted his experiences, he said that
one thing that kept him from choking to death for
want of water, was the clamp pebbles which he dug
from low ravines and held them in his mouth. The
Indians said that no human being could walk as
far as he did, go without water, and live four days
and five nights. The party that found him said he
must have walked at least seventy-five miles, some
said one hundred.

He testified that on the afternoon of the 22nd,
his father and mother came and gave him water
and told him that his friends would find him. His

LIFK OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 63

clothing was all gone except his under garments,
which were badly torn.

Before leaving home on his trip to Prescott,
David had worked several days fixing up his books
and accounts, and burning up all useless papers,
after which he told his wife that he felt different
in starting on this trip from anything he had ever
felt before. He said .it seemed to him that he should
never return. He told her that if this proved to
be the case, he had fixed his business up in such
a shape that she would have no trouble, and would
know as much about it as himself. She frequently
spoke of these curious remarks, and felt consider-
ably worried. When the news came that he was
lost, all was plain to her, and she never expected
to see him come home alive. Nothing could com-
fort her and she watched night and day until he
was brought home.

David was never satisfied with his Jonesville
home, on account of certain conditions that sur-
rounded the place, and he therefore traded his farm
and improvements for a home on the Mesa. When
he had settled down in his new quarters, he con-
tracted with the government to furnish Fort Mc-
Dowell with eight hundred cords of wood, to be
delivered within a specified time. Instead of mak-
ing twelve or fifteen hundred dollars out of his
contract he gave his friends and relatives the full
benefit of it.

A number of the most influential citizens of Mesa
were closelv connected with Brother Kimball in

Thomas S. Kimball, son of David P. Kimball, and his
wife, Fannie, 1890.

LI1 E OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 65

business and religious affairs, when he was pres-
ident of the Bear Lake Stake of Zion, and they
knew his worth. In fact, he became so popular
with the people of that community that it caused
jealousy among other prominent members of the
Mesa ward. He was called afterwards to preside
over a small colony of Saints who had settled near
the headwaters of the San Pedro river. This call
was a great disappointment to David, in -many
ways ; but, without a murmur, he made the sac-
rifice.

He now disposed of his Salt River property, and
began his two-hundred-mile journey to the south-
east, to comply with this new call. Reaching his
destination, he lost no time in building a comfort-
able home, and sooi surrounded himself with other
improvements that were an honor to the commu-
nity in which he lived. With the help of the peo-
ple, he built a canal and soon St. David was or-
ganized into a ward. He was chosen bishop. He
later became a member of the county school board
of that district, a position he held as long as he
lived.

The new section of country, extending as far
north as the Gila Valley, soon came into prom-
inence, resulting in the organization of the St.
Joseph stake of Zion, with Christopher Layton pres-
ident and David P. Kimball, first counselor. But
the latter was not destined to hold that position
very long. His days on earth were fast drawing
to a close. It will be remembered that in writing

Hebcr Chase, Quince K., and Thatcher Kimball, sons
of David P. Kimball, 1917.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 67

to his sister Helen, under date of Jan. 8, 1882, he
made this statement: "Father finally told me that
I could remain two years longer, after which he
would come for me, and also mentioned the names
of four others that he would come for. I will see
you before long, and tell you all, as it never will
be blotted out of my memory."

During the fall of 1883, David paid a visit to Salt
Lake City, to see his relatives and friends, to whom
he confirmed by his own lips all that his letter con-
tained, and told many other things relating to his
remarkable experience. He seemed a little reticent
to most of his friends, and talked but little of his
strange experience, feeling pained that so many
seemed to doubt his word, and being unwilling to
make himself obtrusive. When he bade his friends
farewell, there was something about him which
seemed to say that he was taking leave of them
for all time. His visit, no doubt, was made with
that object in view, for it was nearly two years
from the time he was lost on the desert. Soon after
he returned to St. David, almost the first news that
came from there was the tidings of his death.

A letter from his nephew, Charles S. Whitney,
who was then living with him, written home on
the 22nd of November, 1883, contained this:

"Uncle David died this morning at half-past six,
easily, and apparently without a bit of pain. Short-
ly before he died, he looked up and called, 'Father,
father!' All night long he had called for Uncle
Heber. You remember hearing him tell how

Monument of David P. Kimball and his wife Caroline,
St. Daind, Arizona.

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL 69

grandpa came to him when he was lost on the des-
ert, and how he pleaded for two more years and was
given that much longer to stay. Last Saturday,
the day he was so bad, was just two years from
the day he was lost, and today is just two years
from the day his father and mother came to him
and gave him a drink of water, and told him that
his friends would find him and he should live two
years longer. He knew that he was going to die,
and bade Aunt Caroline goodby, day before yester-
day."

During the last two years of his life David re-
vealed to three of his personal friends the names of
the four persons whom his father had told him in
vision that he should come for, at or near the time
when he would return for him. He exacted the
promise from these friends (who, it seems, had
some doubt regarding the divine nature of his
vision, which doubt he was anxious to dispel) that
they would not divulge the names of these indi-
viduals until after their death. The names, with
respective dates of decease, are as follows :

William H. Hooper, died December 30, 1882.
Horace K. Whitney, died November 22, 1884.
Heber P. Kimball, died February 8, 1885.
William Jennings, died January 15, 1886.

As will be seen, the longest interval given from
the death of David P. Kimball is two years, one
month and twenty-there days. William H. Hooper,
who was the first of the four to go, preceded David

70

LIFE OF DAVID P. KIMBALL

by about eleven months, while Horace K. Whit-
ney, the second to depart, followed him one year
later to a day.

Viroqne, an Indian girl presented by Thomas S. Williams
to his daughter, Caroline M. Kimball, when
the child ivas eight years of age. -

OTHER SKETCHES

A WORTHY PROPHET

Heber C. Kimball, 1867.

A Worthy Prophet

Heber Chase Kimball, prophet, pioneer, and col-
onizer, was born in 1801, at Sheldon, Franklin
County, Vermont. His fourth great grandfather,
Richard, was born in 1595, at Rattlesden, Suffolk
County, England, and came to America in 1634,
on the ship "Elizabeth."

President Kimball was not always understood
even by his nearest and dearest friends. The
greater the love he had for a man, the more severe
was the test he applied to that man. This he did
for a wise purpose, just as the Lord, through the
Prophet Joseph and President Brigham Young,
had tried him. He well understood this principle,
knowing that when a righteous man is chided it
makes him more humble ; while on the other hand, a
corrupt man becomes rebellious.

The enemies of this remarkable man, who find
fault with him for the blunt and forceful expres-
sions which he made, should read his history, and
then try to imagine what they would have done
under similar varying circumstances in which he
found himself. In the first place, in connection
with the Latter-day Saints in general, figuratively
speaking, he had been made a football for fifteen
years ; and for no other reason than that he and they
were worshiping Israel's God according to the
light revealed to them from the heavens, through

74 OTHER SKETCHES

their great Prophet and leader, Joseph Smith. To
cap the climax, the Saints, with starvation staring
them in the face, were driven fifteen hundred miles
from their comfortable homes, into a howling wild-
erness. Then, before Heber C. Kimball and other
mighty leaders had fairly established themselves in
this then barren region, their persecutors were
again snapping at their heels, with the hope and
determination of driving them into the Pacific
Ocean.

Heber C. Kimball was a man of character, deter-
mination, full of vim, a natural born financier who
could accumulate wealth where an ordinary man
might starve. He was God-fearing, as tender-hearted
as a child, and possessed the gift of healing to a re-
markable degree. His heart was filled with compas-
sion towards all men, and his soul was full of love.
He was ready at all times to give counsel to the
weakest child that came in his way, and thousands
of the older members of the Church remember him
with love and respect. He was a man of such great
discernment that it was almost impossible to de-
ceive him. He was an ardent lover of animals, and
had regard even for the lower species.

This is what President George Q. Cannon had
to say about him : "Heber Chase Kimball was
one of the greatest men of this age. There was a
certain nobility about his disposition that would
have made him conspicuous in any community. He
was a man of commanding presence, with eyes
so keen as to almost pierce one through, and be-

A WORTHY PROPHET 75

fore which the guilty involuntarily quailed. He
was fearless and powerful in rebuking the wrong-
doer, but kind, benevolent and fatherly to the de-
serving*. He possessed such wonderful control over
the passions of men, combined with such wisdom
and diplomacy, that the Prophet Joseph Smith
called him "The peace maker." His great faith,
zeal, earnestness, devotion to principle, cheerful-
ness under the most trying circumstances, energy,
perseverance and honest simplicity marked him as
no ordinary man. He possessed great natural force
and strong will power, yet in his submission to the
Priesthood and obedience to the laws of God, he
set a pattern to the whole Church. No man, per-
haps, Joseph Smith excepted, who has belonged to
the Church in this generation, ever possessed the
gift of prophecy to a greater degree than Brother
Kimball."

Apostle Franklin D. Richards, in writing of Pres-
ident Kimball's missionary work in England, had
this to say : "The wonderful following and ingath-
ering of souls at the opening of the British Mission,
evidenced the purity and power of his apostleship
which was unexcelled since the awakening in Judea
by Jesus and John. According to Heber C. Kim-
ball's own estimation, he converted and baptized
into the 'Mormon' Church not less than three
thousand souls."

During the troublesome times at Kirtland, Ohio,
he stood so high in the estimation of the Prophet
Joseph that that mighty leader recorded in his jour-

76 OTHER SKETCHES

nal that Heber C. Kimball was one of the apostles
who had never raised his hand against him; and
President Brigham Young declared at his funeral,
that he was a man of as much integrity as any
man who ever lived upon the earth.

A number of the most prominent Kimballs of
the United States have publicly declared that He-
ber Chase Kimball is the greatest Kimball that
America has ever produced, and these eminent
non-"Mormons" have placed his history in some
of the most noted libraries in the United States and
Canada.

The subject of prayer was probably as well un-
derstood by him as by any other living man. When
in sore trouble he pleaded with the Lord like a
loving son with his earthly father, and never ceased
praying till he felt the Spirit of God burning in his
bosom. He often remarked that a prayer was
never heard under ordinary circumstances unless
such was the case.

Before family prayers he most always made a
few remarks upon religious topics, or read several
pages from some of the standard works of the
Church ; then, before he had prayed many minutes,
those who were present could not only feel the
Spirit of the Lord permeating their being, but at
times it seemed like the whole room was filled
with heavenly beings. On such occasions it was no
unusual occurrence to see his family and friends
with bowed heads, sobbing as if their hearts would
melt within them.

A WORTHY PROPHET 77

The following fatherly advice given to his chil-
dren many years ago, shows still further the integ-
rity and nobility of character of this mighty man of
God:

"I desire to speak to my children this morning,
and while doing so I pray that I may be inspired
by the Holy Ghost. My soul has mourned for the
welfare of my children, and there is no parent on
earth who has more tender feelings for his chil-
dren than I have. When I behold the great things
of God and the glory that awaits the righteous, I
pray to the Lord to bless and save my children I
know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed
to the Prophet Joseph Smith, is true, for God has
revealed it to me. Every man who rejects it will
be damned, and those who receive it will be saved.
Baptism is the sign of the resurrection, and it is the
password whereby we enter into the kingdom of
heaven. I want my children to observe these
things, for we have come into a dispensation where
we have got to open the door to receive all the
dispensations of old. iThe course I take in this life
will be handed down to future generations by my
children. I want the older ones to set an example
to the younger ones, and where there is hardness
of heart, put it away. Sin, when cultivated, brings
forth tyranny. If you give way to sin even a little,
it will conceive in your bosom and grow. Let these
things sink deep into your hearts, and if you will
do so, they will prove a blessing to you."

ANCESTRY OF HEBER C. KIMBALL

Hcber C. Kimball, in 1867.

Ancestry of Heber C. Kimball

Soon after Heber C. Kimball joined the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his father's
family became so embittered towards him, on that
account, that he was unable to secure from them
anything that would lead to the discovery of his
ancestry, placing him in the humiliating position
of not even knowing the name of his grandfather.
He was so disturbed in his mind over this condi-
tion of things that he could hardly contain himself.
This was especially so after the Prophet Joseph
Smith's inspired address on vicarious work for the
dead had been given.

As soon as the Nauvoo Temple was completed
he officiated in that holy edifice for seven of his
deceased relatives, including his parents; but at
this point the work for his kindred dead ceased for
want of more names.

In 1853, he employed a genealogist by the name
of Kane to visit his relatives in the East for the
purpose of obtaining records that would enable him
to learn of his grandfather, and then to continue
the search along ancestral lines as far back as pos-
sible.

In the course of a year, Mr. Kane reported to
President Kimball that he was unable to get ac-
cess to his father's family Bible, in possession of

82 OTHER SKETCHES

his sister Eliza, consequently he received no aid
from that source. However, he had come into
possession of other material which, he claimed,
proved that the Kimball family were of Scotch de-
scent, and that their ancient name was Campbell
instead of Kimball. President Kimball, having im-
plicit confidence in Mr. Kane's genealogical abil-
ity, joyfully accepted his report, and the Scottish
idea of Campbell prevailed among the Kimball
family of Utah for more than forty years after-
wards, when this theory was proved untrue.

It is interesting to note how the minds of men
outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints are moved upon by unseen powers, and un-
wittingly made to assist those who are trying to
observe the commandment to seek after and do
work for the dead. In 1887 (nineteen years after
President Kimball's death) a glorious spirit seemed
to permeate the minds of the whole- family, stir-
ring them to action. That same year not less
than lour hundred of his descendants gathered at
Fuller's Hill Gardens, in Salt Lake City, and such
a time of rejoicing as was experienced on that
occasion is seldom witnessed. Those present were
inspired by unseen powers, and they partook of
t!ie prophet's declaration:

"Gliul tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness
fcr the living and the dead; glad tidings of great
joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the
feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things ;
and that say unto Zion, behold! thy God reigneth.

ANCESTRY OF HEBER C. KIMBALL 83

As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of
God descend upon them."

Strange to say, the same year that the Kimball
family met at Fuller's Hill Gardens, Professor A. L.
Morrison, of Windom, New Hampshire, whose
mother was a Kimball, and Professor S. P. Shar-
pies of Boston, Mass., whose wife was a Kim-
ball, at about the same time and unknown to each
other, both commenced work on a genealogical
history of the Kimball family of America. Both
of these expert genealogists continued their la-
bors for seven years before they became acquainted
with each other. After that, they became co-
workers and co-editors for three more years, when
they had completed one of the most perfect gen-
ealogical works published up to that time in the
United States. It contains 1278 pages, and the
names of 17,000 of Heber C. Kimball's ancestors.
They made the remarkable discovery that all of
the Kimballs of America were descendants of two
brothers, Richard and Henry, who came from Rat-
tlesden, Suffolk County, England, to America, in
1634, on the ship "Elizabeth." They visited the
old Kimball homes in that part of England and
traced the family name back for 500 years. The
wealthy Kimballs of the United States furnished
the means to carry this enterprise through,
amounting to thousands of dollars.

Another remarkable coincident in connection
with this genealogical question was that just pre-
vious to the coming forth of the Sharpies-Morrison

84 OTHER SKETCHES

publication, several representative members of the
Kimball family of Utah were moved upon by the
spirit of the Lord to employ Brother B. F. Cum-
mings, of Salt Lake City, to ascertain, if possible,
some facts about Heber C. Kimball's grandfather.
After some time had been spent by Brother Cum-
mings in this direction, he made the following re-
port:

"I have discovered that James Kimball of Brad-
ford, Mass., is the grandfather of Heber C. Kim-
ball, and he was born at the above mentioned
place November 8th, 1736. He moved from there
to Hopkinton, New Hampshire, and while living
there, married a young lady whose given name was
Meribah. In 1796, with a family of eleven chil-
dren, he moved to Sheldon, Franklin County, Ver-
mont, where he lived the remainder of his days.
His children's names are Elizabeth, John, Rhoda,
Dorothy, Solomon, Betty, James, Moses, Stephen,
Cornelia and Jessie."

Brother Cummings made this important discov-
ery just in time to get these facts printed in their
proper place in the Sharpies-Morrison History, in-
cluding a full-page portrait of President Kimball
and a short sketch of his life.

Soon after this genealogical history was pub-
lished, Hon. G. F. Kimball, of Topeka, Kan., com-
menced the publication of "The Kimball Family
News," a monthly periodical of considerable impor-
tance. Each month Professors Morrison and Shar-
pies furnished for this journal long lists of names,

ANCESTRY OF HEBER C. KIMBALL 85

which showed the number of President Kimball's
ancestors to be upwards of 20,QOO. All of these
that were eligible have been baptized for, and up-
wards of 1,000 males and nearly all of the females
have been endowed.

The ancestral line of the Heber C. branch of the
Kimball family runs as follows : Solomon was the
father of Heber, and was born in 1770. His wife's
name was Anna Spaulding. Solomon's father's
name was James, and he was born in 1736. His
wife's given name was Meribah. James' father's
name was Jeremiah, and he was born in 1707. His
wife's name was Elizabeth Head. Jeremiah's
father's name was David, and he was born in 1671.
He married Elizabeth Gage. David's father's
name was Benjamin, who was born in 1637. His
wife's name was Mary Hazelton. Benjamin's
father's name was Richard, the emigrant, who was
born at Rattlesden, Suffolk County, England, in
1595. His wife's name was Ursula Scott.

The spiritual-minded members of the Kimball
family of this intermountain region believe that
their illustrious father, Heber Chase Kimball, had
much to do with the coming forth of the genealogi-
cal history of the Kimball family of America, and
all rejoice in the following inspired expressions of
the Prophet Joseph:

"Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal
praise to the King Emmanuel who hath ordained
before the world was, that which would enable us
to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoner
shall go free."

AN EVENTFUL LIFE

Solomon F. Kimball and his two living sons, Heber
and Famham,

An Eventful Life

Few old-time settlers of this intermountain re-
gion have had a more varied experience, along
certain lines, than has Brother Solomon F. Kim-
ball. When eight days old he received from Pres-
ident Brigham Young a blessing that fairly made
his little bones tremble. It closed with these
words: "Thou shalt not be a whit behind any of
thy father's house in blessings, but shall receive
them in due time, for thou shalt live and enjoy life,
and the angels shall have charge over thee, and
thou shalt have dominion over every foul spirit,
and over death itself, and possess great treasures
of wisdom and knowledge, and we seal you unto
your father and mother, and bless you with all the
blessings of the new and everlasting covenant in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

Brother Kimball believes that this'blessing has
caused him much sorrow and trouble, as the evil
one, in every way possible, has sought his destruc-
tion, in order to prove that President Brigham
Young was a false prophet. To mention all the
dangers and narrow escapes from death through
which he has passed since that remarkable predic-
tion was made, would fill a volume.

Solomon is the seventh son of Heber C. and
Vilate M. Kimball, and was born at Winter Quar-
ters, Nebraska, February 2, 1847. The following

90 OTHER SKETCHES

lines were written by his mother several days after
his birth:

"The Lord has sent another son,

The seventh one that I have borne ;

His name it shall be Solomon,

As he was called the wisest man.

I pray the Lord to bless the lad

With wisdom more than Solomon had ;

That he may be the father of lives

But not the husband of so many wives,

For by them he was overthrown,

And lost his heirship to the crown ;

Through wisdom which he might have gained

Had that great gift with him remained.

I therefore ask the Lord again,

A kingdom let my son obtain ;

But never let his love for woman

Surpass the wisdom God hath given him."

While crossing the plains in 1848, "Solley," as
his mother called him, took a severe cold which
settled in one of his lower limbs, and made him a
cripple for life. When his parents reached the Salt
Lake Valley, he was so reduced in flesh and
strength that it was more than three years before
he was able to walk. He had a visionary turn of
mind ; and, even in his childhood days, was so sus-
ceptible to the invisible things around him that his
father called him his spiritual-minded boy. Many
times he astonished his little playmates by telling
them what they were thinking about. He was a
lover of animals, and in later years drove his fath-
er's carriage hundreds of miles while the latter, in
company with other Church officials, was making

AN EVENTFUL LIFE 91

annual visits throughout the settlements of Zion.

When the Black Hawk war of 1866 broke out,
Brother Solomon was with the first company that
went to the rescue of the panic-stricken people of
Sanpete, Sevier, and Piute counties, who were be-
ing pillaged and plundered by a band of bloodthirsty
savages, under the able leadership of the notorious
renegade, Chief Black Hawk.

One year later, he was placed in charge of the
mathematical department of the University of Des-
eret, a position he held with honor and credit until
the spring of 1868. He then went to Laramie, Wy-
oming, after merchandise, and it was here that he
first learned of his father's death. Soon after reach-
ing home he went to work on the Union Pacific
Railroad, where he remained until that national
highway was completed. In 1869, he was sent on
a mission to the Bear Lake country, where three
years were spent in farming, freighting and rais-
ing stock. Most of his time, during the next five
years, was occupied in moving wild horses from
Antelope Island, and in carrying government mail
from Salt Lake City to the head of Big Cottonwood
canyon.

In 1877, Solomon was called on another mission,
this time to Arizona, where he led an active life
for nine years. On the 10th of February, 1881, he
was married to Miss Zula Pomeroy, the accom-
plished daughter of Francis M. and Matilda Pome-
roy, of Mesa. It was in Mesa that he first became
interested in religious matters, and among the

92

OTHER SKETCHES

Church offices held by him during the next five
years was ward clerk, secretary of Sunday School,
and one of the seven presidents of a Seventies quo-
rum.

On account of poor health, Brother Kimball was
released, in 1886, from his Arizona mission, and
returned to his Salt Lake home well qualified for
the work that Providence had marked out for him.
He had no more than reached Salt Lake when he
was moved upon by a heavenly influence to com-
mence the publication of his father's history. This

o

o

Solomon F. Kimball (1869) an d his wife Zula P. (1880).

AN EVENTFUL LIFE 93

would cost at least $4,000 in cash, and where was
that amount to come from ! The Lord provided
the way. On the hill back of the old Kimball home-
stead were four lots that had been overlooked by
the family for years. Inspired by the Lord, Brother
Solomon was not long in discovering them. The
"boom" of 1900 came, and the lots were sold for
$4,550 cash. Under his management his father's his-
tory was written, and five thousand copies pub-
lished. Three years from that time he had dis-
posed of the entire edition at a profit of more than
$2,000. With part of the proceeds from the sale of
the lots, his father's private cemetery was improved
and beautified at a cost of $3,475. What cash re-
mained was invested in four life-size portraits of
President Kimball, which were presented to the
Logan, Manti, Salt Lake and St. George temples.
Before this work was completely accomplished,
our subject was sent for by President Wilford
Woodruff, who made Solomon heir to his father's
house.

Soon after this honor was conferred, upon him,
the Genealogical History of the Kimball Family
of America was published, giving the names of
17,000 of his father's ancestors. The temple work
was commenced at once; and within seven years
all of that number had been baptized for, and 5,500
of them endowed.

Brother Solomon has been at the head of every
important movement made by the Kimball family
since his father's death, except the work done by

94

OTHER SKETCHES

the administrators of the estate, and his labors have
been crowned with success in every particular.

On the first day of January, 1892, joy came to
the house of Brother Kimball, when his wife gave
birth to twins, and this happiness was followed by
grief nine days later when his beloved wife, Zula,
died. Those were days of sorrow for Brother Sol-
omon, as four of his children died within three years
from that time. Farnham, Heber and Helen still
survive their mother, and all have families and are
doing well.

During the fall of 1890, Solomon became a home
missionary in the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, a posi-
tion he held for more than eight years. He was

Meriba and Helen Kimball, daughters of Solomon
F. Kimball.

AN EVENTFUL LIFE

95

one of the presidents of the Thirteenth Quorum of
Seventies at the time, but later was ordained a
High Priest.

During the spring of 1893, he was married to
Miss Caroline Fillerup, the oldest daughter of An-
drew P. and Caroline Fillerup, of Provo. She was
a graduate of the Brigham Young Academy, as
well as a first-class housekeeper, which was greatly
appreciated by Brother Kimball and his mother-
less children.

It was in 1906 that Brother Solomon first com-
menced to write, and since that time he has writ-
ten upwards of thirty articles for the "Improve-
ment Era," besides publishing his little book,
"Thrilling Experiences."

Solomon F. Kimball and wife, Caroline F. Kimball, 1890,

SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS

Caroline F. Kimball, unfc of Solomon F. Kimball, 1898.

Spiritual-Mindedness

The Lord in his wisdom has so veiled the heav-
ens that any communication from the spirit world
is greatly appreciated when it comes from the right
source. Having had some experience in this mat-
ter, I will relate a few circumstances that have
taken place in my own life.

As near as I can remember, my first spiritual ex-
perience took place when I was about five years
old. One beautiful spring morning, under the guid-
ance of a heavenly influence, I was led to a shady
little nook near the mouth of City Creek Canyon.
My spiritual ears were then opened, and for an hour
or two I listened to the most beautiful music that
I had ever heard. After it ceased I returned home
and related to my parents what had occurred, and
after that they called me their spiritual-minded
boy.

A year or two later, during recovery from a
severe spell of sickness, I was royally entertained
by a spiritual personage who for several hours
filled my mind with clean but amusing stories that
kept me laughing the whole time. I had experi-
enced manifestations of this nature on other occa-
sions, but not to so great an extent.

As I grew older, I experienced various kinds of
manifestations that often caused me to wonder

100 OTHER SKETCHES

whence they came. For instance, as soon as
the first fruits of the season commenced to ripen, a
secret something made these things known unto
me, even indicating the exact places -where they
could be found. Consequently, myself and bosom
companions were the first to enjoy the early fruits
from my father's numerous orchards and gardens.

Many times I amused my little bed-fellows by
telling them what they dreamed about during the
night, since I nearly always dreamed the same
things that they did. I made this discovery while
sleeping with my brother Brigham, who was two
years older than I.

Whatever was happening about the neighbor-
hood in the way of socials, my spiritual friends
made it known to me, and I was generally present
on time to receive my share of the good things.
Sometimes it caused considerable merriment when
I dropped in among my friends just as they were
passing the refreshments around.

Another gift I possessed was the ability to read
my fellows' thoughts. Sometimes, when every-
thing was quiet, I could tell them what they were
thinking about. I will mention one case, as the
person is still living and often reminds me of it. I
was sleeping with George Judd, at my father's
Grantsville ranch. As we lay meditating for some
time, I said to him, "George, I can tell you what
you are thinking about." He said, "No; I don't
believe you can." I said, "You are thinking about
that Newfoundland dog that barked at us last eve-

SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS 101

ning, as we were passing through Grantsville." He
said, "Yes; that is so; but how in the world did
you know?"

After I had grown to manhood these gifts
proved of great benefit to me in many respects.
They revealed the thoughts and intents of wicked
men's hearts, who were laying their plans to injure
or destroy me. Many times my life has been spared
by listening to the promptings of the spirit, even
in relation to poisonous reptiles. In 1884, when
a small company of us were on our way from Ari-
zona to St. George, Utah, while traveling up the
Grand Gulch, one dark night, the spirit suddenly
warned me of danger ahead ! The road was rough,
and our wagons were keeping up a terrible clatter-
ing. Brother C. I. Robinson and I were walking in
the road together just ahead of the teams. As
quick as thought I jerked him back. I then lit a
match, and there lay in the road a large rattle-
snake, all ready to spring at us !

The most remarkable experiences that I ever
passed through, occurred during the nine years that
I lived in Arizona. The first event of importance
took place in October, 1877. After crossing a
seventy-five mile desert with ox teams, my spiritual
ears were opened, to my sorrow. From eleven
o'clock at night, until daylight the next morning,
while driving our jaded animals up a sandy wash
in search of water, I listened to a Satanic string
band that caused every fiber in my dejected body
to quiver. The deep, doleful, lonesome sound al-

102 OTHER SKETCHES

most drove me wild, while my swollen tongue was
protruding from my burning mouth. Every part
of that horrible dirge was perfectly played, inter-
preting, most excellently, the terrible ordeal
through which I was passing, causing my mind to
suffer more intensely than my body, if such a thing
were possible. Those dismal sounds rumble in my
ears to this day, causing me to shudder when I
think of it!

On the other hand, I have heard spiritual music
that was so far ahead of anything earthly that I
ever listened to that comparison cannot be made.
These angelic musicals were generally given after
passing through long sieges of hardships, disap-
pointments, and homesickness. Then, when every-
thing was going well with me, I could feel heav-
enly influences gathering around until I sometimes
felt as if I was floating in mid-air. I believe it was
my departed relatives and friends who, out of sym-
pathy, had come to bring me cheer. On such oc-
casions their presence was generally accompanied
by celestial music.

While life lasts, I will never forget one occasion
of this kind, that took place during the late spring
of 1878. After crossing a dreary desert waste, I
came into a beautiful valley, the surroundings of
which were most enchanting. The road for miles
ahead, was almost as level as a barn floor, and
weather conditions were simply perfect. There was
not a living soul within ten miles of where I was,
and it was so still that my animals started at the

SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS 103

least sound. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, I felt
the presence of my spiritual friends gathering
around, and soon after, some distance away, I heard
beautiful music. It was a heavenly orchestra play-
ing a grand march. The whole heavens seemed to
resound with sweet melodies, there being nothing
to mar the solemnity of the occasion until I drove
into camp for the night. Then the music ceased,
my spiritual friends departed, leaving everything
around me as silent as death.

I was then overcome with grief and left to my-
self to meditate upon where I was and where I
might have been, had I lived up to my privileges.
I fed and watered my animals, turned them out to
grass, and then crawled into bed, where I cried
myself to sleep.

RESULTS OF SABBATH-BREAKING

Results of Sabbath-Breaking

The Lord has made it known unto us that we are
conceived in sin; that when we begin to grow up,
sin conceiveth in our hearts and we taste the bitter
that we may know how to prize the sweet.

The worst sin conceived in my heart while I was
growing up was Sabbath-breaking. When I first
commenced to violate the fourth commandment, the
bitter was given to me in a mild form, such as slight
injuries, tumbling into creeks, tearing my clothing,
and getting a well-deserved spanking at times.

As I grew older the penalty became more severe,
such as being thrown from horses, kicked by-mules,
hooked by cows, bitten by dogs, and many other
experiences of a similar nature. While these bitter
pills were being administered to me, with clock-
work regularity, I was doing all in my power to
make myself believe that Sabbath-breaking had
nothing to do with it, but found it very difficult.

In 1869, a small company of us boys settled in
the Bear Lake country, and commenced to build
homes. This was the first time that we had every-
thing our own way, and a jollier lot of Sabbath-
breakers probably never lived. All days were the
same to us, and especially Sunday; for that was
the day of all other days that we turned ourselves

108

OTHER SKETCHES

loose in the full meaning of the word. It was Sun-
day when we reached our Bear Lake home. It was
Sunday when we took possession. It was Sunday
when we surveyed our land. It was Sunday when
we laid out our town. It was Sunday when my

Tom Williams and Jed and Hod Kimball.

brother David H. and I drove home from the
canyon so rapidly that I was thrown from my
wagon and nearly killed. We lightly laid it to
carelessness, but it was weeks before I was able to
go to work.

David and I each had a load of logs in the can-
yon ready to haul, and, as soon as I was well
enough we went after them. As I was loading my
wagon, my fingers were caught between two logs

RESULTS OF SABBATH-BREAKING 109

and I was unable to extricate them. I yelled for
help, but received no answer. While suffering with
my three mashed fingers I was forcibly reminded
that it was just five weeks to a day since I was
thrown from my wagon, and now I was again in a
worse predicament than ever. As soon as David
had loaded his wagon, he came strolling up the
canyon to find me in this pitiable plight. He pried
my fingers loose, and I was soon on my way home
with the words, "Remember the Sabbath day to
keep it holy," everlastingly ringing in my ears. A
month passed before I could use my hand.

I was so far behind with my work, by this time,
that I hardly knew which way to turn. My barn
was up to the square, and I was very anxious to
get it under cover before winter; hence, I thought-
lessly went to work on it one Sunday morning. As
I was hewing a log above my head, my ax glanced
and came down on my right foot, cutting its way
through the main joint of my big toe. I feared I
might bleed to death, for there was not a doctor
within fifty miles of the place. I was disabled for
weeks, and it seemed to me a miracle that I lived.

For a long time after that I moved about with
considerable care on Sundays, for I was convinced
that the Lord was terribly in earnest when he
thundered the fourth commandment into the ears
of the children of Israel. These incidents worked a
reformation throughout the whole camp, but boy-
like we soon again forgot.

Two years later, Manasseh Williams and I went

110 OTHER SKETCHES

to Salt Lake City after supplies. We loaded our
wagon on Saturday night and started for home
Sunday morning. As I was driving over a bad
place, I lost my balance and fell to the ground.
Two wheels passed over my lower limbs, and I was
again disabled for a month. I never could quite
understand how it was that the evil one always
picked on me, unless it was on account of my par-
ents being so much opposed to Sabbath-breaking.
I finally became a close observer of the Sabbath
day, and, considering my restless disposition, my
conduct became quite praiseworthy.

I was born in the wilderness, while our people
were on their way to the west, and must have par-
taken of the pioneer spirit to a great extent. I
wanted to move all the time. The rougher the
surroundings the better I enjoyed them. I relished
boiled crow in the mountains better than boiled
beef at home. Civilization gave me the blues, and
attending to school was slow torture. With such
a disposition, it was difficult for me to live my re-
ligion.

The next Sunday, in company with several com-
panions, I visited Edington's brewery. While we
were having the time of our lives, a crazy man
entered the place, carefully scanned the crowd,
singled me out, of course, stepped within a few
feet of where I stood, drew from his belt a big gun,
and without batting an eye, banged away at my
breast. My left hand happened to be in front of
me when he shot. As quick as thought I threw it

RESULTS OF SABBATH-BREAKING 111

up, and caught the ball in my hand, where it re-
mained for several hundred Sundays.

After thinking matters over, I came to the con-
clusion that carousing around beer gardens, on
Sundays was not keeping the Sabbath day holy,
so went home and read everything on "Mormon-
ism" in the house. It went so hard with me that
every friend I met wanted to know what in the
world was the matter, and were not slow in recom-
mending change of climate. The "Old Nick," who
had been camping on my tracks for years, undoubt-
edly said, "Yes, that is just what is needed to bring
him out of the kinks, and by the time I get through
with him he will be glad to get back to a place
where they keep the Sabbath day holy."

I soon found myself driving an ox team over
the worst road in Arizona, with blisters on my feet
as big as boiled beans. Here I remained for nine
years, passing through experiences that many times
made me wish I had been a better boy. This God-
forsaken country sure enough was the Sabbath-
breakers' paradise, for Sunday was never heard of.
For the first four years I was alone most of the
time, as far as the human family were, concerned,
otherwise I had company to spare. In my new
quarters lived nine different kinds of rattle-snakes
that were always looking for a row. Also millions
of ringed, streaked and striped lizards, ranging in
size from the tiny chameleon to the venomous
Gila monster. There were also interesting vari-
eties of spiders, centipedes, scorpions, horned-toads

112 OTHER SKETCHES

and tarantulas by the trillions. One could
scarcely move without infringing upon the rights
of something. I counted forty-four different kinds
of cactus in one day, and every last one of
them had a chip on its shoulder. Spanish bay-
onets, bristling "benyons," prickly pears, and
pointed "penders;" needle-necks, nail-kegs, cat's-
claws, thistle-foxtail, desert-thistle, and a thousand
other thorny things that kept me jumping. The
craggy peaks, the savage red man, the wild beasts,
the dreary wastes, the parched ground, the sandy
deserts, and a hundred other horrid things that
made me wince and wonder! I was on the ragged
edge of despair all the time. Chasing hostile In-
dians over Utah hills was a pleasure in comparison
to this life. My rampant spirit was subdued long
before my pardon came, and I was ready to serve
God and keep his commandments when it did come.
I was anxious to get home and take up my labors
on father's history, where I left off, as well as to
look after other important matters pertaining to
his affairs. These sacred duties weighed heavily
upon my mind, as I could begin to understand the
meaning of certain blessings conferred upon me by
the Prophet Brigham, when I was eight days old.
A change from the bitter to the sweet was at
hand, and I was ready for the change. Justice and
judgment were satisfied, and mercy claimed her
own. I was almost smothered with the spirit of
repentance, and began to cry mightily unto the
Lord for help. After I had exhausted all the en-

RESULTS OF SABBATH-BREAKING 113

ergy that lay within my power, deliverance came.
I at once joined the Mesa ward, as directed by the
Spirit, and was soon following the narrow path that
leads to life eternal. After providing for my fam-
ily's wants I asked the Lord to give me an under-
standing of the gospel, little realizing the way in
which my prayer would be answered.

I soon felt my strength giving way, and for the
next four years I was unable to do more than six
months' work. I took hold of my religious studies
with a vim, and the way the scriptures were un-
folded to my mind was nothing short of marvel-
ous. I almost committed to memory the New Tes-
tament, the Doctrine and Covenants, the "Pearl
of Great Price," "Key to Theology" and the "Voice
of Warning." I read everything on church doc-
trine that I could obtain and received manifesta-
tions that were truly wonderful. I was so inter-
ested in my studies that I could hardly sleep nights.
After I had sufficiently humbled myself before the
Lord and stored my mind with useful knowledge,
I was allowed to return home.

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

A Miraculous Escape

During the latter part of May, 1861, my father
sent me to Grantsville with a herd of cows. The
horse I rode was an overgrown, somewhat skittish
colt. For the first mile or two, I was unable to
get the cows started,, on account of the many side-
streets, so I persuaded a number of my little
brothers to give me a helping hand. They were
warmly dressed, and after walking some distance
asked me to carry their coats, which I did by plac-
ing them on the saddle in front of me.

As I was riding along in a careless manner, one
of the coats fell to the ground, frightening my
horse. He suddenly leered to one side and threw
rne off. As I fell, my left foot slipped through
the stirrup, and I was unable to extricate it. At
break-neck speed the animal started towards Ante-
lope Island, kicking at me with both feet at every
jump. He ran so fast that I hardly touched the
ground, and all I could feel was the sharp grease-
wood combing my hair as I whizzed by.

My thoughts were perfectly rational and, as my
life on many other occasions had been spared in a
miraculous manner, I wondered if the Lord would
do anything for me on this occasion. I had no time
to get frightened, but was becoming terribly nerv-
ous, as the colt's heels were cutting dangerously
close to me. The animal was strong enough to

118 OTHER SKETCHES

drag an ox, and the saddle would never give way
under the weight of a stripling lad like me. I
realized this, and had about given up all hopes of
escape when the horse kicked one of his hind feet
through the other stirrup, and threw himself to
the ground, at the same time breaking the stir-
rup strap. As quick as thought I wrenched my
foot from the other stirrup. I had no sooner done
so than the colt was on his feet again and going
faster than ever.

My little brothers came running to my assistance
and were astonished to find that I had received
scarcely a scratch. A couple of horsemen, passing
by, caught my fleeing steed, and in a short time I
was on my way again, praising the Lord for pre-
serving my life in such a miraculous manner.

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

L'BRARY

Solomon F. Kimball.

A Blessing in Disguise

During the fall and winter of 1889, I was trou-
bled with a tingling, itching sensation under my
left eye, but paid little attention to it, thinking it
would soon cease. It finally developed into a pain-
ful, deep-seated sore, the roots of which I could
plainly feel spreading over the left side of my face
in every direction. I finally became alarmed and
consulted an eminent cancer specialist, who hap-
pened to be spending a few days in our city. He
informed me that it was a cancer of the worst type,
and the result would be disastrous, unless it were
attended to at once. He gave me some ointment
to rub over it, and set the time when he would
remove it from my face.

The next day I was driving a nail into a hard
piece of wood. It flew out, and the point of it
struck me in the left eye, inflicting a painful wound.
Doctor W. T. Cannon happened to be present at
the time, and advised me to see an occulist, and
have it attended to, which I did. Doctor Ira Lyons
treated it every day for several weeks, and the
pain during that time was very severe. Each day
I saturated a piece of medicated cotton with con-
secrated oil and bound it over my afflicted eye.
This was the only substantial relief I could get.
However, my eye continued to get worse, and the
doctor finally decided to remove it, as it had com-

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menced to affect the sight of the other eye. He set
the time for the operation, Sunday, that being a
quiet day.

I belonged to what was then known as the "Pres-
ident Taylor Prayer Circle," which met in the His-
torian's office every Sunday morning. I went there
that day with feelings better imagined than de-
scribed, and related to the brethren of the circle
what was about to take place. Brother Joseph
Home was in charge, and there was a goodly at-
tendance. After Brother Hamilton G. Park of-
fered up an inspired prayer, Bishop Whitney
anointed me with consecrated oil. Then as many of
the brethren as could get around, placed their
hands upon my head, and Bishop Alexander McRae
gave me one of the most powerful blessings that
I ever received. In the name of the Lord he re-
buked the pain, and promised that my eye should
be healed from that very moment, and every one
present said, "Amen." iThe fervent prayers of
these righteous men prevailed, and my afflicted eye
was made whole.

With a light heart and cheerful countenance, I
went to Doctor Lyon's office. He examined my
eye, and with wonder exclaimed, "What in the
world has happened? Your eye is all right." I
had suffered such intense pain with it that I had al-
most forgotten about the cancer. The consecrated
oil had in the meantime killed it, root and branch,
not even leaving a scar. The next day I went to
see the cancer specialist, and when I explained mat-

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

123

ters to him, he was greatly surprised. He was so
pleased with my statement that he presented me
with a watch charm which I have kept to this day,
and shall always keep as a sacred remembrance of
that remarkable event.

Patriarchal Blessings

BLESSING GIVEN TO HEBER C. KIMBALL

By Patriarch Hyrum Smith, at Nauvoo, Illinois,

March 9, 1842

Brother Heber : I lay my hands upon your head
in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ,
and bless you according to your calling, which is
spiritual, and according to your station and lineage
and magnanimity, honor and nobility of your blood,
as it hath descended in a true lineal descent from
your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by which
you are blessed with their faith, which is the faith
of faithful Abraham to believe and to endure all
things, with patience. The same has been a great
preservation to sustain you and to inspire your
heart unto obedience, to receive the promises which
were obtained, and the blessings which were to
come upon their children, the same to be placed
upon your head, which blessings hath swollen your
heart unto greatness and with gratitude in the pres-
ence of God. The same shall crown you with every
blessing spiritually and temporally; spiritually by
that Priesthood which is your right with all its qual-
ifying powers of which you have received a fore-
taste, but you shall be blessed with a fulness, and
shall be not one whit behind the chiefest.

As an apostle, you shall stand in the presence of

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God to judge the people, and as a Prophet you shall
attain to the honor of the three ; and shall prophesy,
and the power of God shall attend your labors, and
crown you with honor and great success, and bring
salvation to millions. Your heart shall be inspired
with inspiration, even the inspiration of the Al-
mighty, henceforth and forever; and for your evils
you shall be chastened and loved and cherished and
made an instrument to cherish and to love the in-
habitants of the earth; the works of your creation
that are like unto yourself, which are the works of
God's hands, standing forth with the power of sal-
vation, having attained the Holy Seal of promise as
one that is chosen and sealed unto eternal life.

For this are you called and chosen and sealed,
for the Hand of God is with you to prosper you, and
to save you and your house, even to the uttermost,
and to your father's house, for they shall bow at
the shrine of Jehovah when you shall lift your voice
and stretch out your arm in their midst, that re-
main, and the residue shall be redeemed ; for the
arm of Jehovah is extended, stretched out in mercy
to prosper you, firm as a decree, unalterable, and
none shall stay his hands.

Therefore, cheer up your heart, for the blessings
of salvation, spiritual and temporal, are yours.
You have a right to the anointing and the endow-
ment, and the testimony of the last days, as a
pruner of the vineyard, to seal up the law and bind
up the testimony, and to an inheritance in the
lineage of your fathers, which is in Ephraim, and

PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS 127

to possess the same in eternity, and to stand wait-
ing for your reward at the coming of the Son of
Man, for his reward shall be with him. These are
the blessings I seal upon your head, even so, Amen.

James Sloan, Clerk.

BLESSING GIVEN TO VILATE M. KIMBALL

By Patriarch Hyrum Smith, at Nauvoo, Illinois,
March 9, 1842

Beloved Sister : I lay my hands upon your head
in the name of Jesus, and seal you unto eternal life
sealed here on earth and sealed in heaven, and
your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life
never to be blotted out.

The same is mentioned and manifested to com-
fort your heart, and to be a comfort unto you hence-
forth all your clays. It is even a promise according
to the mind of the Spirit, and the Spirit shall bear
record of the truth; the same is called the Second
Comforter, not his presence, but his promise. The
same is as immutable as an oath by Himself, be-
cause there is none greater, and there is no greater
promise nor no greater blessing that can be given,
and no greater riches, it being the riches of eter-
nity, which are the greatest riches of all riches.

These are your blessings ; and also you shall be
blessed with the communion of the Holy Spirit,
with a knowledge of the mysteries of God, and
fellowship with the Saints, and share in the glory,
the honor and every blessing touching your inherit-

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ance and lineage with and in common with your
husband, receiving the mysteries of God through
the Key of Knowledge which is sealed upon his
head.

As to your temporal blessings, they shall be in
common with your husband, for you shall prosper
in all your avocations in life, and your name shall
be perpetuated in honor by your posterity unto the
latest generation; and you shall be blessed with
long life, even according to the desire which is in
your heart. You shall see much of the salvation of
God, and shall be crowned in the end together, in
the glorious resurrection of the just, at the sound of
the first trump, or at the coming of the Son of Man.
These blessings I seal upon your head, even so,
Amen.

James Sloan, Clerk.

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